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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 


UNITED STATES OP AMERICA, 































‘4 



1 






27th Cosgukss, 2d Session', 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 


WITH A COPIOUS INDEX. 


>■ 


ALSO, 

TIESIl lEUILIig. 

\ 

OF THK 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 

AND 


^ The Joint Rules of the Tno Houses; 


" As in force at the close of th^ Extra Session of 1841. 


WITH NOTES AND INTIEXES, 
♦ 

" RY SAMUEL BUKCHE. : 












CONSTITUTION 


OF THE 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

xs 

PROPOSED BY THE CONVENTION 


JIELD XT PHIIADELPHIA, SEPTEMBER 17, 1787, AXD SI?fCE RATIFIED BY 
THE SEVERAL STATES; 

WITH THE AMENDMENTS THERETO: 

And an Index, prepared by Samuel Burche. 


TO WHICH ARE ADDED, 
I 


STANDING RULES AND ORDERS 

FOR COXDUCTIXO BUSIKESS IN THE 

HOUSE OF KEPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES. 


PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 









/SI// 









CONSTITUTION, 


We, the People of the United States, in order to form a 
more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic 
tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote 
the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty 
to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish 
this Constitution for the United States of America. 

ARTICLE 1. 

SECTION I. 

All legislative powers herein granted, shall Congress, 
be vested in a Congress of the United States, 
which shall consist of a Senate and House of 
Representatives. 


SECTION II. 

The House of Representatives shall be com- Representa- 
posed of members chosen every second year 
by the people of the several States; and the ^ 
electors in each State shall have the qualifica¬ 
tions requisite for electors of the most numer¬ 
ous branch of the State Legislature. 

No person shall be a Representative who Qualification 
shall not have attained to the age of twenty- 
five years, and been seven years a citizen of 
the United States, and who shall not, when 
elected, be an inhabitant of that State in which 
he shall be chosen. 

Representatives and direct taxes shall be Apportion- 
apportioned among the several States which 
may be included within this Union, according a^d direct ^ 
to their respective numbers, which shall be taxes. 






4 


Constitution of the United States. 


Census every 
ten years. 


determined by adding to tlic whole number of 
free persons, including those bound to service 
for a term of years, and excluding Indians not 
taxed, three-fifths of all other persons. The 
actual enumeration shall be made within three 
years after the first meeting of the Congress 
of the United States, and within every subse¬ 
quent term of ten years, in such manner as 
they shall by law direct. The number of Rep¬ 
resentatives shall not exceed one for every 
thirty thousand, but each State shall have at 
least one Representative : and until such enu¬ 
meration shall be made, the State of New 
Hampshire shall be entitled to choose three, 
Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Pi'o- 
vidence Plantations one, Connecticut five. 
New York six. New Jersey four, Pennsyl¬ 
vania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, 
Virginia ten. North Carolina five. South 
Carolina five, and Georgia three. 

When vacancies happen in the representa¬ 
tion from any State, the Executive autiiority 
thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such 
vacancies. 

Representa- The House of Representatives shall choose 
tives choose of- their Speaker and other officers, and shall have 

hcers and bring powcr of impeachment, 

impeaciiraents. ^ ^ 


V^acancics> 
how filled. 


SECTION III. 


Senate, how- 
chosen. 


Senators 

classed. 


The Senate of the United States shall be 
composed of two Senators from each State, 
chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six 
years ; and each Senator shall have one vote. 

Immediately after they shall be assembled 
in consequence of the first election, they shall 
be divided as equally as may be into three 
classes. The seats of the Senators of the first 
class, shall be vacated at the expiration of tha 


5 


Coji.’iiiiution of the United Stales. 

second year, of the second class at the expira¬ 
tion of the fourth year, and of the third class 
at the expiration ol the sixth year, so that one- 
third may be chosen every second year; and Vacancies, how 
It vacancies happen by resignation or other-filled, 
wise, during the recess of the Legislature of 
any State, the Executive thereof may make 
temporary appointments, until the next meet¬ 
ing of the Legislature, which shall then fill 
such vacancies. 

No person shall be a Senator who shall not Qualification of 
have attained to the age of thirty years, and 
been nine years a citizen of the United States, 
and who shall not, when elected, be an inhab¬ 
itant of that State for which he shall be chosen. 

The Vice President of the United States Vice President 
shall be President of the Senate, but shall have Preside, 
no vote, unless they be equally divided. 

The Senate shall choose their other officers. Officers of Sen- 
and also a President pro tempore, in the ab-^te. 
sence of the Vice President, or when he shall 
exercise the office of President of the United 
States. 

The Senate shall have the sole power to Trial of im- 
try all impeachments. When sitting for that peachments. 
purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. 

When the President of the United States is 
tried, the Chief Justice shall preside; and no 
person shall be convicted without the. concur¬ 
rence of two-thirds of the members present. 

Judgment in cases of impeachment shall Judgment on 
not extend farther than to removal from office, 
and disqualification to hold and enjoy any 
office of honor, trust, or profit, under the 
United States; but the party convicted shall Eflfect of. 
nevertheless be liable and subject to indict¬ 
ment, trial, judgment, and punishment, accord¬ 
ing to law. 


1 



Constilulion oj the United ^tafe-f. 


SECTION IV, 

Elections, The times, places, and manner of holding 

wlien and how elections foi’ Senators and Representatives^ 
' shall he prescribed in each State by the Legis¬ 

lature thereof j but the Congress may, at any 
time, by law, make or alter such regulations, 
except as to the places of choosing Senators. 
Congress as- The Congress shall assemble at least onco 
semble annu- every year, and such meeting shall be on 
the first INionday in December, unless they 
shall by law appoint a different day. 

SECTION V. 

Elections, hew^ Each House shall be the judge of tlic elec- 
judged. tions, returns, and qualifications, of its owit 

members; and a majorit}^ of eacli shall cotisti- 
Quornm, t^te a quorum to do business; but a smaller 
number may adjourn from day to da^q and may 
be authorized to compel the attendance of 
Absent mem- absent members, ill such manner and under 
such penalties as each House may provide. 
Rules. Each House may determine the rules of its 

proceedings,punish its members for disorderly 
Expulsion. behaviour, and with the, concurrence of two- 
thirds, expel a member. 

Journals to be Each House shall keep a journal of its pro- 
ceedings, and from time to time publish the 
' same, excepting such parts as may in their 

Yeas and nays, judgment require secrecy; and the yeas and 
nays of the members of either House on any 
question, shall, at the desire of one-fiftli of 
those present, be entered on the journal. 
Adjournments. Neither House, during the session of Con¬ 
gress, shall, without the consent of the other, 
adjourn for more than three days, nor to any 
other place than that in which the two Houses 
shall be sitting. 


Constif uiion of the United Stales. 


7 


SECTION VI. 

The Senators and Representatives shall re- Compensation, 
ceive a compensation for tlieir services, to be 
ascertained by law, and paid out of the Ireasury 
of the United States. They shall, in all cases, Privileges, 
except treason, felony, and breach of the peace, 
be privileged from arrest during their attend¬ 
ance at the session of their respective Houses, 
and in going to or returning from the same ; 
and for any speech or debate in either House, 
they shall not be questioned in any other 
place. 

No Senator or Representative shall, during Members not 
the time for which he was elected, be ap- appointed to of- 
pointed to any civil office under the authority 
of the United States, which shall have been 
created, or the emoluments whereof shall have 
been increased during such time; and no Officer^ of Gov 
person holding any otfice under the United cannot 

States, shall be a member of either House 
during his continuance in office. 


SECTION VII. 

All bills for raising revenue shall originate Revenue bills, 
in the House of Representatives; but the 
Senate may propose or concur with amend¬ 
ments, as on other bills. 

Every bill which shall have passed the Bills to be pro- 
House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, 
before it become a law, be presented to the 
President of the United States ; if he approve His powers 
he shall sign it, but if not, he shall return 
it, with his objections, to that House in which 
it shall have originated, who shall enter the 
objections at large on their journal,and proceed Proceedings on 
to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration, 
two-thirds of that House shall agree to pass the 



Const ituiioii of the United Stales. 


Bills to be laws 
if not returned 
in ten days. 


Joint orders or 
resolutions to be 
approved by 
President. 


Powers of Con¬ 
gress— 

Lay taxes— 
Pay debts— 
General wel¬ 
fare— 

Duties uni¬ 
form— 

Borrow money. 


bill, it shall be sent, together with the objec¬ 
tions, to the other House, by which it shall 
likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by 
two-thirds of that House, it shall become a law. 
But in ail such cases, the votes of both Houses 
shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the 
names of the persons voting for and against 
the bill, shall be entered on the journal of each 
House respectively. If any bill shall not be 
returned by the President withi]i ten days 
(Sundays excepted) after it shall have been 
presented to him, the same shall be a law in 
like manner as if he had signed it, unless the 
Congress by their adjournment prevent its 
return, in which case it shall not be a law. 

Every order, resolution, or vote, to which 
the concurrence of the Senate and House of 
Representatives may be necessary, (except on 
a question of adjournment,) shall be presented 
to the President of the United States; and 
before the same shall take effect, shah be ap¬ 
proved by him, or being disapproved by him, 
shall be repassed by two-thirds of the Senate 
and House of Representatives, according to 
the rules and limitations prescribed in the case 
of a bill. 


SECTION Vlir. 

Tlie Congress shall have power to lay and 
collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises; to 
pay the debts and provide for the common de¬ 
fence and general welfare of the United States ; 
but all duties, imposts, and excises shall be uni¬ 
form throughout the United States ; 

To borrow money on the credit of the 
United States; 

To regulate commerce with foreign nations, 


Commerce. 


Constitution of the United States. 


9 


and among the several States, and with the 
Indian tribes; 

To establish a uniform rule of naturaliza- Naturalization, 
tion, and uniform laws on the subjectof bank- 
riiptcies throughout the United States ; 

To coin money, regulate the value thereof. Coin money, 
and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of and 

weights and measures; measures. 

To provide for the punishment of counter- Counterfeiting, 
feiting the securities and current coin of the 
United States; 

To establish post offices and post roads ; Post roads. 

To promote the progress of science and Promote arts 
useful arts, by securing, for limited times, to science, 
authors and inventors, the exclusive right to 
their respective writings and discoveries; 

To constitute tribunals inferior to the Su-Inferior courts, 
preme Court; 

To define and punish piracies and felonies Piracies, &c. 
committed on the high seas, and offences 
against the law of nations ; 

To declare war, grant letters of marque and Declare war, 
reprisal, and make rules concerning captures 
on land and water; 

To raise and support armies; but no ap- Raise armies, 
propriation of money to that use shall be for 
a longer term than two years; 

To provide and maintain a navy; Navy. 

To make rules for the government andregu- P«ies and arti- 
lation of the land and naval forces ; ^ ^ 

To provide for calling forth the militia to Call out militia, 
execute the laws of the Union, suppress insur¬ 
rections, and repel invasions; 

To provide for organizing, arming, and dis- Organize and 
ciplining the militia, and for governing such 
part of them as may be employed in the ser¬ 
vice of the United States, reserving to the 
States respectively, the appointment of the Officers militia. 



10 


Constitution of the United States. 


Exclusive le¬ 
gislation over 
seat of Govern¬ 
ment. 


And over forts, 
arsenals, docks, 
&c. 

To make gen¬ 
eral laws to 
carry powers 
into effect. 


officers, and the authority of training the mi¬ 
litia according to the discipline prescribed by 
Congress ; 

To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases 
whatsoever, over such district (not exceeding 
ten miles square) as may, by cession of par¬ 
ticular States, and the acceptance of Congress, 
become the seat of Government of the United 
States, and to exercise like authority over all 
places purchased by the consent of the Legis¬ 
lature of the State in which the same shall be, 
for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, 
dock-yards, and other needful buildings;— 
And 

To make all laws which shall be necessary 
and proper for carrying into execution the 
foregoing powers, and all other powers vested 
by this Constitution in the Government of the 
United States, or in any department or officer 
thereof. 

SECTION IX. 


Importation of The migration or importation of such per- 
siaves allowed sons as any of the States now existing shall 
till 1808 . think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited 
by the Congress prior to the year one thousand 
eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may 
be imposed on such importation, not exceeding 
ten dollars for each person. 

Habeas corpus. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus 
shall hot be suspended, unless when, in cases 
of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may 
require it. 

Attainder and No bill of attainder, or ex post facto law, 
ex post facto shall be passed. 

Direct taxes. capitation or other direct tax shall be 

laid, unless in proportion to the census or 
enumeration herein before directed to be taken. 


Constitution of the United Slates. 


11 


No tax or duty shall be laid on articles No exportation 
exported from any State. 

No preference shall be given by any reg- Commerce be- 
ulation of commerce or revenue to the ports of ^1^® 
one State over those of another; nor shall ves- 
sels bound to or from one State, be obliged 
to enter, clear, or pay duties in another. 

No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, Money, how 
but in consequence of appropriations made by Treasur^^^"^ 
law: and a regular statement and account of 
the receipts and expenditures of all public To be pubUsh- 
money, shall be published from time to time. 

No title of nobility shall be granted by the No nobility. 
United States; and no person holding any 
office of profit or trust under them, shall, with¬ 
out the consent of the Congress, accept of any 
present, emolument, office, or title of any kind Foreign pres- 
whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign 
j State. 

, SECTION X. 

j No State shall enter into any treaty, alliance. Towers denied 
1 or confederation ; grant letters of marque and 
f reprisal; coin money; emit bills of credit ; 
make any thing but gold and silver coin a 
tender in payment of debts ; pass any bill of 
attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing 
the obligation of contracts; or grant any title 
of nobility. 

No State shall, without the consent of the Other powers 
Congress, lay any imposts or duties on imports 
or exports, except what may be absolutely 
necessary for executing its inspection laws; 
and the nett produce of all duties and imposts, 
laid by any State on imports or exports, shall 
be for the use of the Treasury of the United 
States; and all such laws shall be subject to 
the revision and control of the Congress. 




12 


Constitution of the United States. 


Further denial 
of powers to 
States. 


President 
United States. 


Electors, how 
appointed. 


Electors to 
meet and to 
elect a Presi¬ 
dent and Vice 
President. 


Their votes 
counted in 
Congress. 


No State shall, Avithout the consent of Con¬ 
gress, lay any duty of tonnage, keep troops 
or ships of war in time of peace, enter into 
any agreement or compact with another State, 
or with a foreign Power, or engage in war, 
unless actually invaded, or in such imminent 
danger as will not admit of delay. 

ARTICLE II. 

SECTION I. 

The executive power shall be vested in a 
President of the United States of America. 
He shall hold his office during the term of 
four years, and, together with the Vice Presi¬ 
dent, chosen for the same term, be elected as 
follows : 

Each State shall appoint, in such manner 
as the Legislature thereof may direct, a num¬ 
ber of electors, equal to the Avhole number of 
Senators and Representatives to which the 
State may be entitled in the Congress; but no 
Senator or Representative, or person holding 
an office of trust or profit under the United 
States, shall be appointed an elector. 

The electors shall meet in their respective 
States, and vote by ballot for tAvo persons, of 
whom one at least shall not be an inhabitant 
of the same State with themselves. And they 
shall make a list of all the persons voted for, 
and of the number of votes for each; Avhich 
list they shall sign and certify, and transmit 
sealed to the seat of the Government of the 
United States, directed to the President of the 
Senate. The President of the Senate shall, 
in the presence of the Senate and House of 


iJonstllutlon of the United States. 13 

Representatives, open all the certificates, and 
the votes shall then be counted. The person 
having the greatest number of votes shall be 
the President, if such number be a majority 
of the whole number of electors appointed; 
and if there be more than one who have such 
majority, and have an equal number of votes, Represcnta- 
then the House of Representatives shall im-tives td choose 
mediately choose, by ballot, one of them for it electors fail. 
President; and if no person have a majority, 
then from the five highest on the list, the said 
House shall, in like manner, choose the Pres¬ 
ident. But in choosing the President, the 
votes shall be taken by States, the representa- votes by 
tion from each State having one vote: a quo- States, 
rum for this purpose shall consist of a member 
or members from two-thirds of the States, and 
a majority of all the States shall be necessary 
to a choice. In every case, after the choice of 
the President, the person having the greatest vice Prcsi • 
number of votes of the electors, shall be the dent. 

Vice President. But if there should remain 
two or more who have equal votes, the Senate 
shall choose from them, by ballot, the Vice 
President.* 

The Congress may determine the time of Election and 
choosing the electors, and the day on which 
they shall give their votes; which day shall be ° 
the same throughout the United States. 

No person, except a natural born citizen, or Qualifications 
a. citizen of the United States at the time of President, 
the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eli¬ 
gible to the office of President; neither shall 
any person be eligible to that office,Avho shall 
not have attained to the age of thirty-five 

* This clause of the Constitution has been amended. See 
twelfth article of the amendments, page 27, 

2 


14 


Constitution of the United States. 


Removal, 
death, &c. of 
President. 


Compensation 
of President. 


Oath. 


Powers and 
duties of the 
President. 


years, and been fourteen years a resident 
within the United States. 

In case of the removal of the President from 
office, or of his death, resignation, or inability 
to discharge the powers and duties of the said 
office, the same shall devolve on the Vice 
President, and the Congress may, by law, 
provide for the case of removal, death, resig¬ 
nation, or inability, both of the President and 
Vice President, declaring what officer shall 
then act as President, and such officer shall 
act accordingly, until the disability be removed, 
or a President shall be elected. 

The President shall, at stated times, receive 
for his services a compensation, which shall 
neither be increased nor diminished during 
the period for which he shall have been 
elected, and he shall not receive within that 
period any other emolument from the United 
States, or any of them. 

Before he enter on the execution of his 
office,he shall take the following oath or affirm¬ 
ation : 

do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will 
faithfully execute the office of President of 
the United States, and will, to the best of my 
ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Con¬ 
stitution of the United States.^’ 

SECTION II. 

The President shall be commander-in-chief 
of the army and navy of the United States, 
and of the militia of the several States, when 
called into the actual service of the United 
States; he may require the opinion, in v/riting, 
of the principal officer in each of the Executive 
Departments, upon any subject relating to the 


Constitution of the United States. 


15 


duties of their respective offices ; and he shall 
have power to grant reprieves and pardons for 
offences against the United States, except in 
cases of impeachment. 

He shall have power, by and with the advice 
and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, 
provided two-thirds of the Senators present 
concur: and he shall nominate, and by and with Appointment 
the advice and consent of the Senate, shall ap- 
point ambassadors, other public ministers, and 
consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all 
other officers of the United States, whose ap¬ 
pointments are not herein otherwise provided 
for, and Avhich shall be established by law. 

But the Congress may, by law, vest the ap¬ 
pointment of such inferior officers as they 
think proper, in the President alone, in the 
courts of law, or in the heads of Departments. 

The President shall have power to fxll up Vacancies in 
all vacancies that may happen during the re- 
cess of the Senate, by granting commissions 
which shall expire at the end of their next 
session. 


SECTION III. 

He shall, from time to time, give to the Further pow- 
Congress information of the state of the Union, 
and recommend to their consideration, such 
measures as he shall judge necessary and ex¬ 
pedient ; he may, on extraordinary occasions, 
convene both Houses, or either of them, and 
in case of disagreement between them, with 
respect to the time of adjournment, he may 
adjourn them to such time as he shall think 
proper; he shall receive ambassadors and other 
public ministers; he shall take care that the 
laws be faithfully executed; and shall commis¬ 
sion all the officers of the United States. 


16 


Constilufion of the United States, 


Impeachment. 


Judician', and 
tenure of 
Judges. 


Poyvers of the 
Judiciary. 


SECTION IV. 

The President, Vice President, and all civil 
officers of the United States, shall be removed 
from office on impeachment for, and convic¬ 
tion of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes 
and misdemeanors. 

ARTICLE IIL 

.SECTION I. 

The judicial power of the United States 
shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in 
such inferior courts as the Congress may, from 
time to time, ordain and establish. The judges, 
both of the Supreme and inferior courts, shall 
hold their offices during good behaviour ; and 
sliall, at stated times, receive for their services 
a compensation, which shall not be diminished 
during their continuance in office. 

SECTION II. 

The judicial power shall extend to all cases 
in law and equity, arising under this Constitu¬ 
tion, the laws of the United States, and 
treaties made, or which shall be made, under 
their authority; to all cases affecting ambas¬ 
sadors, other public ministers, and consuls.; 
to all cases of admiralty and maritime juri.s- 
diction; to controversies to which the United 
States sliall be a party; to controversies be¬ 
tween two or more States, between a State 
and citizens of another State, between citi¬ 
zens of diflerent States, between citizens of 
the same State claiming lands under grants of 
different States, and between a State, or the 
citizens thereof, and foreign States, citizens, or 
subjects. 


Constitution of the United States. 


17 


In all cases affecting ambassadors, other Jurisdiction of 
public ministers and consuls, and those in Supreme 
which a State shall be party, the Supreme 
Court shall have original jurisdiction. In all 
the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme 
Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both 
as to law and fact, with such exceptions and 
under such regulations as the Congress shall 
make. 

The trial of all crimes, except in cases of Trials by jury, 
impeachment, shall be by jury, and such trial 
shall be held in the State where the said crimes And where 
shall have been committed; but when not 
committed within any State, the trial shall be 
at such place or places as the Congress may 
by law have directed. 

SECTION III. 

Treason against the United States, shall Treason, 
consist only in levying Avar against them, or 
in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid 
and comfort. No person shall be convicted 
of treason unless on the testimony of two wit¬ 
nesses to the same overt act, or on confession 
in open court. 

The Congress shall have power to declare No corruption 
the punishment of treason; but no attainder 
of treason shall work corruption of blood, or 
forfeiture, except during the life of the person 
attainted. 


ARTICLE IV. 

SECTION I. 

Full faith and credit shall be given in each Acts of States 
State to (he public acts, records, and judicial accredited, 
proceedings of every other State. And the 


18 


Privileges of 
citizenship. 

Fugitives from 
crimes to be 
delivered up. 


Fugitive slaves 
to be delivered 
up. 


New States, 


Territory and 
other property 
of U. States. 


Constitution of the United States'. 

Congress may, by general laws, prescribe the 
manner in which such acts, records, and pro¬ 
ceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof, 

SECTION ri. 

The citizens of each State shall be entitled 
to all privileges and immunities of citizens hr 
the several States. 

A person charged in any State with treason, 
felony, or other crime, who shall flee from 
justice, and be found in another State, shall, 
on demand of the Executive authority of the 
State from which he fled, be delivered up, to 
be removed to the State having jurisdiction of 
the crime. 

No person held to service or labor in one 
State under the laws thereof, escaping into 
another, shall, in consequence of any law or 
regulation therein, be discharged from such 
service or labor ; but shall be delivered up on 
claim of the party to whom such service or 
labor may be due. 

SECTION III. 

New States may be admitted by the Con¬ 
gress into this Union ; but no new State shah 
be formed or erected within the jurisdiction 
of any other State, nor any State be formed 
by the junction of two or more States, or parts 
of States, without the consent of the Legisla¬ 
tures of the States concerned, as well as of the 
Congress. 

The Congress shall have power to dispose 
of, and make all needful rules and regulations 
respecting, the territory or other property be¬ 
longing to the United States; and nothing in 
this Constitution shall be so construed as to 


Constitution of the United States. 


19 


prejudice any claims of the United States, or Claims, 
of any particular State. 

SECTION IV. 

The United States shall guaranty to every Republican 
State in this Union a republican form of gov- of gov¬ 
ernment, and shall protect each of thern®™”^®”^’ 
against invasion; and on application of the Protection of 
Legislature, or of the Executive (when 
Legislature cannot be convened) against do¬ 
mestic violence. 


ARTICLE V. 

The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Amendments 
Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Consti- 
amendments to this Constitution; or, on the 
application of the Legislatures of two-thirds 
of the several States, shall call a convention 
for proposing amendments, which, in either 
case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, 
as part of this Constitution, when ratified by 
the Legislatures of three-fourths of the sev¬ 
eral States, or by conventions in three-fourths 
thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratifi¬ 
cation may be proposed by the Congress; pro¬ 
vided, that no amendment which may be made 
prior to the year one thousand eight hun¬ 
dred and eight, shall in any manner affect the 
first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of 
the first article : and that no State, without its 
consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage 
in the Senate. 


ARTICLE VI. 

All debts contracted and engagements en- 
tered into, before the adoption of this Con- cognised. 



20 


Constitution of the United States, 


What consti¬ 
tutes the su¬ 
preme law. 


Oath of public 
•fficers. 


No religious 
test. 


Ratification. 


stitution, shall be as valid against the United 
States under this Constitution, as under the 
Confederation. 

This Constitution, and the laws of the Uni¬ 
ted States which shall be made in pursuance 
thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall 
be made, under the authority of the United 
States, shall be the supreme law of the land; 
and the judges in every State shall be bound 
thereby; any thing in the Constitution or laws 
of any State to the contrary notwithstanding. 

The Senators and Representatives before 
mentioned, and the members of the several 
State Legislatures, and all executive and ju¬ 
dicial officers, both of the United States and 
of the several States, shall be bound by oath 
or affirmation, to support this Constitution: 
but no religious test shall ever be required as 
a qualification to any office or public trust un¬ 
der the United States. 

ARTICLE VII. 

The ratification of the conventions of nine 
States, shall be sufficient for the establishment 
of this Constitution between the States so rati¬ 
fying the same. 

Done in Convention, by the unanimous con¬ 
sent of the States present, the seventeenth 
day of September, in the year of our Lord 
one thousand seven hundred and eighty- 
seven, and of the Independence of the Uni¬ 
ted States of America, the twelfth. In wit¬ 
ness whereof we have hereunto subscribed 
our names. 

G° WASHINGTON, 

President, and Deputy from Virginia. 


Consiituiion of the United States. 


21 




New Hampshire. 

John Langdon, 

Nicholas Gilman. 

Massachusetts. 

Nathaniel Goidiam, 

Ivufus King. 

Connecticut. 

William Samuel Johnson, 

Roger Sherman. 

New York. 

Alexander Hamilton. 

Neiv Jersey. 

William Livingston, 

David 13 ready, 

William Patterson, 

Jonathan Dayton. 

Pennsylvania. 

Benjamin Franklin, 

Thomas Mifllin, 

Robert Morris, 

George Clymer, 

Thomas Fitzsimons, 

Jared Ingersoll, 

James Wilson, 

Gouverneur Morris. 

Attest: WILLIAM JACKSON, Secretary. 


IN CONVENTION. 

Moxday, September 17, 1787. 

Resolved, That the preceding Constitution 
be laid before the United States in Congress 
assembled, and that it is the opinion of this 
Convention, that it should afterwards be sub¬ 
mitted to a Convention of Delegates chosen in 
each State by the people thereof, under the 
recommendation of its Legislature, for their 
assent and ratification ; and that each Conven¬ 
tion assenting to, and ratifying the same, should 
give notice thereof to the United States in 
Congress assembled. 

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Con¬ 
vention, that as soon as the Conventions of 
nine States shall have ratified this Constitu¬ 
tion, the United States in Congress assembledj 


Delaware. 

George Reed, 

Gunning Bedford, jun. 
John Dickinson, 

Richard Bassett, 

Jacob Broom. 

Maryland. 

James McHenry, 

Daniel of St. Tho. Jenifer, 
Daniel Carroll. 

Virginia. 

John Blair, 

James Madison, jun. 

North Carolina. 
William Blount, 

Richard Dobbs Spaight, 
Hugh Williamson. 

South Carolina. 
John Rutledge, 

Charles C. Pinckney, 
Charles Pinckney, 

Pierce Butler. 

Georgia. 

William Few, 

Abraham Baldwin. 



32 Constitvtion of the United States. 

should fix a day on which electors should be 
appointed by the States which shall have rati¬ 
fied the same, and a day on which the electors 
should assemble to vote for the President, 
and the time and place for commencing pro¬ 
ceedings under this Constitution. That after 
such publication, the electors should be ap¬ 
pointed, and the Senators and Representatives 
elected. That the electors should meet on the 
day fixed for the election of the President, and 
should transmit their votes, certified, signed, 
sealed, and directed, as the Constitution re¬ 
quires, to the Secretary of the United States 
in Congress assembled; that the Senators and 
Representatives should convene at the time 
and place assigned; that the Senators should 
appoint a President of the Senate, for the sole 
purpose of receiving, opening, and counting 
the votes for President; and, that after he 
shall be chosen, the Congress, together with 
the President, should, without delay, proceed 
to execute this Constitution. 

By the unanimous order of the Convention, 
G°. WASHINGTON, President. 

W. Jackson, Secretary. 


IN CONVENTION. 


September 17 , 1787 . 

Sir : We have now the honor to submit to 
the consideration of the United States in Con¬ 
gress assembled, that Constitution which has 
appeared to us the most advisable. 

The friends of our country have long seen 
and desired, that the power of making war, 
peace, and treaties; that of levying money, 
and regulating commerce, and the correspond- 





Constitution of the United States. 


23 


eiit executive and judicial authorities, should 
be fully and effectually vested in the General 
Government of the Union : but the impropriety 
of delegating such extensive trust to one body 
of men, is evident; hence results the necessity 
of a different organization. 

It is obviously impracticable in the Federal 
Government of these States, to secure all rights 
of independent sovereignty to each, and yet pro¬ 
vide for the interest and safety of all. Individ¬ 
uals entering into society, must give up a share 
of liberty to preserve the rest. The magnitude 
of the sacrifice must depend as well on situation 
and circumstance, as on the object to be obtain¬ 
ed. It is at all times difficult to draw with pre¬ 
cision the line between those rights which must 
be surrendered, and those which may be reserv¬ 
ed ; and on the present occasion, this difficulty 
was increased b}^ a difference among the several 
States as to their situation, extent, habits, and 
particular interests. 

Ill all our deliberations on this subject, we 
kept steadily in our view, that which appears 
! to us the greatest interest of every true Ameri- 
j can, the consolidation of our Union, in which 
i is involved our prosperity, felicity, safety, per¬ 
haps our national existence. This important 
consideration, seriously and deeply impressed 
on our minds, led each State in the Conven¬ 
tion to be less rigid on points of inferior magni¬ 
tude, than might have been otherwise expect¬ 
ed ; and thus the Constitution, which we now 
present, is the result of a spirit of amity, and of 
that mutual deference and concession, which the 
peculiarity of our political situation rendered in¬ 
dispensable. 

That it will meet the full and entire appro¬ 
bation of every State, is not perhaps to be 



24 


Constitution of the United States* 


expected; but each will doubtless consider, 
that had her interest been alone consulted, the 
consequences might have been particularly 
disagreeable or injurious to others; that it is 
liable to as few exceptions as could reasonably 
have been expected, we hope and believe ; 
that it may promote the lasting welfare of that 
country so dear to us all, and secure her free¬ 
dom and happiness, is our most ardent wish. 

With great respect, we have the honor to be, 
sir, your excellency’s most obedient and hum¬ 
ble servants. 

By the unanimous order of the Convention: 

G°. WASHINGTON, President. 

His Excellency the PnEsinnifT of Congress. 


The United States in Congress assembled. 

Friday, September 28 , 1787 . 

Present—New Hampshire, Massachusetts, 
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Penn¬ 
sylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Caro¬ 
lina, South Carolina, and Georgia; and 
from Maryland, Mr. Ross. 

Congress having received the report of the 
Convention lately assembled in Philadelphia, 

Resolved, unanimously, ThdX the said report, 
with the resolutions and letter accompanying 
the same, be transmitted to the several Legis¬ 
latures, in order to be submitted to a Convention 
of Delegates,chosen in each State by the people 
thereof, in conformity to the resolves of the 
Convention, made and provided in that case. 

Charles Thomson, Secretary. 




25 


Constitution of the United States. 

AMENDMENTS. 

Article the First. 

Congress shall make no law respecting an 
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the 
free exercise thereof; or abridging the free¬ 
dom of speech, or of the press; or the right of 
the people peaceably to assemble, and to peti¬ 
tion the Government for a redress of griev¬ 
ances. 


Article the Second. 

A well-regulated militia being necessary to 
the security of a free State, the right of the 
people to keep and bear arms shall not be in¬ 
fringed. 


Article the Third. 

No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quar¬ 
tered in any house without the consent of the 
owner; nor in time of war, but in a manner to 
be prescribed by law. 

Article the Fourth. 

The right of the people to be secure in their 
persons, houses, papers, and effects, against 
unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not 
be violated; and no warrants shall issue, but 
upon probable cause, supported by oath or 
affirmation, and particularly describing the 
place to be searched, and the persons or things 
to be seized. 


Article the Fifth. 

No person shall be held to answer for a 
capital or otherwise infamous crime, unless 
3 


Constitution of the United States. 

on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury*;, 
except in cases arising in the land or naval 
forces, or in the militia, when in actual service, 
in time of war or public danger; nor shall any 
person be subject for the same offence to be 
twice put in jeopardy of life or limb ; nor shall 
be compelled, in any criminal case, to be a wit¬ 
ness against himself, nor be deprived of life, 
liberty, or property, without due process of 
law; nor shall private property be taken for 
public use without just compensation. 

Article the Sixth. 

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall 
enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, 
by an impartial jury of the State and district 
wherein the crime shall have been committed, 
which district shall have been previously as¬ 
certained by law, and to be informed of the 
nature and cause of the accusation ; to be con¬ 
fronted with the witnesses against him; to 
have compulsory process for obtaining wit¬ 
nesses in his favor; and to have the assistance 
of counsel for his defence. 

Article the Seventh. 

In suits at common law, where the value 
in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, 
the right of trial by jury shall be preserved ; 
and no fact tried by a jury shall be other¬ 
wise re-examined in any court of the United 
States, than according to the rules of the 
common law. 

Article the Eighth. 

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor 
excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual 
punishments inflicted. 


VonsHt ution of the United States, 
Article the Ninth. 

The enumeration in the Constitution, of cer¬ 
tain rights, shall not he construed to deny or 
disparage others retained by the people. 

Article the Tenth. 

The powers not delegated to the United 
States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by 
it to the States, are reserved to the States re¬ 
spectively, or to the people. 

Article the Eleventh, 

The judicial power of the United States 
shall not be construed to extend to any suit 
in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted 
against one of the United States by citizens of 
another State, or by citizens or subjects of any 
foreign State. 

Article the Twelfth. 

The electors shall meet in their respective 
States, and vote by ballot for President and 
Vice President, one of whom, at least, shall 
not be an inhabitant of the same State with 
themselves; they shall name in their ballots 
the person voted for as President, and in dis¬ 
tinct ballots the person voted for as Vice Pres¬ 
ident ; and they shall make distinct lists of all 
persons voted for as President, and of all per¬ 
sons voted for as Vice President, and of the 
number of votes for each, which lists they 
shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to 
the seat of the Government of the United 
States, directed to the President of the Senate ; 
the President of the Senate shall, in the presence 
of the Senate and House of Representatives, 
open all the certificates, and the votes shall 


28 Constitution of the United States, 

then be counted : the person having the great¬ 
est number of votes for President, shall be the 
President, if such number be a majority of the 
whole number of electors appointed; and if 
no person have such majority, then from the 
persons having the highest numbers, not ex¬ 
ceeding three, on the list of those voted for as 
President, the House of Representatives shall 
choose immediately, by ballot, the President. 
But in choosing the President, the votes shall 
be taken by States, the representation from 
each State having one vote ; a quorum for this 
purpose shall consist of a member or members 
from two-thirds of the States, and a majority of 
all the States shall be necessary to a choice. 
And if the House of Representatives shall not 
choose a President whenever the right of choice 
shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day 
of March next following, then the Vice Presi¬ 
dent shall act as President, as in the case of the 
death or other constitutional disability of the 
President. 

The person having the greatest number of 
votes as Vice President, shall be the Vice Pres¬ 
ident, if such number be a majority of the 
whole number of electors appointed; and if 
no person have a majority, then from the two 
highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall 
choose the Vice President: a quorum for the 
purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole 
number of Senators, and a majority of the 
whole number shall be necessary to a choice. 

But no person constitutionally ineligible to 
the office of President, shall be eligible to that 
of Vice President of the United States. 



INDEX 




TO THE 

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 


Arts and sciences^ to be promoted - - - l 

Acts, records, and judicial proceedings of each State, enti- 

tl-ed to faith and credit in other States - - 4 

Amendments to the Constitution, how made - - 5 

made - - - - 

Appointments, to be made by the President - - 2 

Apportionment of Representatives - - - 1 

Appropriations by law - - - - - 1 

Appropriation for army, not to exceed two years - 1 

Armies, Congress to raise and support - - - 1 

Arms, right of the people to keep and bear - - - 

Assemble, people may - - - - - - 

Attainder, bill of, prohibited to Congress - - 1 

prohibited to the States - - - 1 

of treason, shall not work corruption of blood, 
or forfeiture except during the life of the per¬ 
son attainted - - - - 3 


B. 


Bail, excessive, not required - - - - - 

Barikruptcy laws to be uniform - - - - 1 

Bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of 

Representatives - - - - - 1 

before they become laws shall be passed by both 
Houses, and approved by President; or, if disap¬ 
proved, shall be passed by two-thirds of each 
House - - - - - - 1 

not returned in ten days, unless an adjournment in¬ 
tervene, shall be laws - - - - 1 

Borrow money. Congress may - - - - 1 

C. 

Capitation tax, apportionment of - - - 1 

Census, or enumeration, to be made every ten years - 1 

Citizens of each State shall be entitled to the privileges 

and immunities of citizens in the several States 4 
3 * 


Sec. Page. 

8 9 

1 17 

1 19 
25 

2 15 

2 3 

9 11 

8 9 

8 9 
25 
25 

9 10 

10 11 


3 17 


26 

8 9 

7 7 


7 7 

7 8 

8 8 


9 10 

2 4 

2 18 



30 


Index io the Constitution. 


Art. Sec. 


Claims, no prejudice to certain - - - - 4 

Claims of the United States, or of the several States, not 
to be prejudiced by any construction of the Con¬ 
stitution - - - - - 4 

Coasting trade, regulations respecting - - 1 

same same - - - 1 

Coins, Congress fix value of foreign - - - 1 

Commerce, Congress to regulate - - - 1 

regulations respecting, to be equal and uniform 1 
Commissions, to be granted by the President - - 2 

Common law, recognised and established, 7th amendment — 
Congress, vested with power - - - - 1 

may alter the regulations of State Legislatures 
concerning elections of Senators and Represen¬ 
tatives, except as to place of choosing Senators 1 
shall assemble once every year - - - 1 

officers of Government cannot be members of - 1 

may provide for cases of removal, death, &c. of 
President and Vice President - - 2 


may determine the time of choosing electors of 
President and Vice President 
may invest the appointment of inferior officers in 
the President alone, in the courts of law, or 


the heads of Departments - - - 2 

may establish courts inferior to the Supreme Court 3 
may declare the punishment of treason - - 3 

may prescribe the manner of proving the acts and 
records of each State - - - 4 

to assent to the formation of new States - 4 

may propose amendments to Constitution, or call 
a convention - - - - 5 

to lay and collect duties - - - i 

to borrow money - - - - 1 

to regulate commerce - - - _ i 

to establish uniform laws of bankruptcy and na¬ 
turalization - - - - - ] 

to coin money, regulate the value of coin, and 
fix a standard of weights and measures - 1 

to punish counterfeiting - _ _ i 

to establish post offices and post roads - - 1 

to authorize patents to authors and inventors - 1 

to constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme 
Court - - - _ _ 1 

to define and punish piracies, felonies on the high 
seas, and offences against the laws of nations 1 
to declare war, grant letters of marque, and make 
rules concerning captures - - _ i 


3 


3 

8 

9 

8 

8 

9 

3 

1 


4 

4 

6 

1 

1 


2 

1 

3 

1 

3 

1 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 

8 


Page. 

IS 


18 

10 

11 

9 

8 

8 

15 

26 

3 


6 

6 

7 

14 

12 


15 

16 
17 

17 

18 

19 

8 

8 

8 

9 

9 

9 

9 

9 

9 

9 

9 


.. 




* 


Index to the Constitution. 


31 


Congress^ to raise and support armies _ _ _ 

to provide and maintain a navy 
to make rules for the government of the army and 
navy - - - _ . 

to call out the militia in certain cases - 
to organize, arm, and discipline the militia 
to exercise exclusive legislation over seat of Gov¬ 
ernment - - _ - _ 

to pass laws necessary to carry the enumerated 
powers into effect - _ _ _ 

to dispose of and make rules concerning the ter¬ 
ritory or other property of the United States - 
President may convene and adjourn in certain 
cases _____ 

Consiiiution, how amended _ _ _ _ 

laws and treaties, declared to be the supreme 
law _____ 

rendered operative by the ratification of nine 
States - _ - _ _ 

Contracts^ no law impairing _ _ . _ 

Conventions for proposing amendments to the Constitution 
Counterfeiting^ Congress to provide for punishment 
Courts Supreme, its original and appellate jurisdiction 
Courts^ inferior to the Supreme Court, may be ordained 
by Congress _ - _ _ _ 

ditto ditto _ _ _ 

Crimes^ persons accused of, fleeing from justice, may be 
demanded _ _ - _ _ 

how to be tried - - - - _ 

Criminal prosecutions f proceedings in cases of - 

D. 

Debts, against the Confederation to be valid 
Duties, to be laid by Congress, and to be uniform 

further provision respecting - - _ 

cannot be laid by the States _ _ _ 

on exports prohibited _ _ - - 

on imports and exports, imposed by States, shall 
enure to the Treasury of the United States 

E. 

Elections, of Senators and Representatives, shall be pre¬ 
scribed by the States _ _ _ 

qualifications and returns of members of Con¬ 
gress to be determined by each House 
Electors of President and Vice President, how chosen, and 
their duties - - - - * - 

altered, see 12th amendment _ _ - 


Art. Sec. Page. 

1 8 9 

1 8 9 

1 8 9 

1 8 9 

1 8 9 

1 8 10 

1 8 10 

4 3 18 

2 3 15 

5 1 19 

6 ' 1 20 

7 1 21 

1 10 11 

5 1 19 

1 8 9 

3 2 17 

1 8 9 

3 1 16 

4 2 18 

3 2 17 

- - 26 


6 1 19 

1 8 8 

1 9 10 

1 10 11 

1 9 11 

1 10 11 


1 4.6 

1 5 6 

2 1 12 

- - 27 




32 


Index to the Constitution. 


Art. 

Electors, to vote the same day throughout the United States 2 


no Senator, or Representative, or public officer, 
shall serve as - - • - - 2 

Enumeration, every ten years - - - - 1 

Executive power vested in a President—(See President') - 2 

Exports, not to be taxed - - - - 1 

and imports, States prohibited from laying du¬ 
ties on - - - - - 1 

Ex post facto law, none shall be passed - - - 1 

prohibited to States - - - 1 

F. 

Fines, excessive, prohibited - - - - - 

Fugitives from justice, to be delivered up - - 4 

from service, may be reclaimed - - 4 

H. 


Habeas corpus, writ of, can only be suspended in cases of ‘ 


rebellion or invasion - - - 1 

House of Representatives. (See Representatives.) 

I. 

Impeachment, to be brought by House of Representatives 1 
tried by the Senate - - - 1 

j udgment on - - - - 1 

all civil officers liable to - - - 2 

Importation of slaves, not prohibited till 1808 - - 1 

J. 

Judges, shall hold their offices during good behavior - 3 

Judiciary, tribunals inferior to Supreme Court may be 

created - - - - - 1 

Judges, their compensation - - - - 3 

Judicial power, vested in a Supreme Court, and courts in¬ 
ferior - - - - - 3 

powers of the J udiciary - - - 3 

restriction as to suits against a State - - 

Judicial proceedings of each State are entitled to faith and 

credit in every State - - 4 

Jury trial secured, and shall be held in the State where 

the crime shall have been committed - 3 

further regulated, 6th amendment - - - 

secured in suits at common law where the value 
in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, 

7th amendment - - - - - 


L. 

Law, what is declared the supreme - - - 6 

Law, common, recognised and established, 7th amendment - 



Index to the Constitution. 


33 




Art. 

Laws, President to see them faithfully executed - - 2 

Legislative powers, vested in Congress. (See CoWjgrm.) 
Loans, authority to make - - - - 1 

M. 

Marque and reprisal, letters of - - - - 1 

Militia to be called out, armed, &c., by Congress - 1 

to be officered by the States - - - 1 

to be commanded by the President - - 2 

their right to keep and bear arms secured, 2d 
amendment - - - - - - 

Money shall be drawn from the Treasury only by appropri¬ 
ation laws - - - - - 1 

Congress to coin and regulate value - - 1 

States cannot make - - - - 1 

N. 

Naturalization, uniform rules - - - - 1 

Navy, Congress to provide and govern - - - 1 

Nobility, titles of, shall not be granted by the United 
States nor by the States - - - 1 

O. 

Officers of House of Representatives shall be chosen by the 

House - - - - - 1 

of the Senate shall be chosen by the Senate - 1 

civil, may be removed by impeachment - - 2 

Order of one House requiring the concurrence of the other 1 

Oath of the President - - - - - 2 

of the public officers - - - - 6 

P. 

Pardons, President may grant - ~ - - 2 

Patents to be granted to inventors - - - 1 

Petition, right of - - - - - - 

Persons held to labor or service, their importation or mi¬ 
gration into the United States may be prohibited 
after 1808 - - - - - 1 

escaping from one State to another shall be deliv¬ 
ered up to those entitled to service - - 4 

Piracy, Congress to prescribe punishment - - 1 

Post offices and post roads, establishment of - - 1 


Powers not delegated to Congress, nor prohibited to the 

States, are reserved, 10th amendment - - - 

Legislative. (See Congress.) 

Executive. (See President.) 

Judicial, Judicial.) 

Presents from fereign Powers to public officers prohibited 1 


Sec. Page. 
3 15 

8 8 


8 9 

8 9 

8 9 

2 14 

25 

9 11 

8 9 

10 11 


8 9 

8 9 

10 11 


2 4 

3 5 

4 16 

7 7 

1 14 

1 20 


2 15 

8 9 

25 


9 10 

2 18 

8 9 

8 9 

27 


9 11 


34 


Index to the Constitution. 


Press, freedom of - - - - - 

President of the U. S. vested with the Executive power - 
shall be chosen for four years 
how elected _ _ - 

same, 12th amendment 
qualifications for - 
who shall act in case of vacancy - 
compensation of - 
shall take an oath of office 
may be removed by impeachment 
President, commander of army, navy, and militia 

may require the written opinions of the heads 
of Departments _ - - - 

may reprieve and pardon _ _ - 

may make treaties, with consent of the Senate, 
may appoint to office, with the consent of the 
Senate . _ _ - - 

shall fill up vacancies happening during the re¬ 
cess of the Senate - - - - 

shall give information to Congress and recom¬ 
mend measures _ _ - - 

may convene both Houses, or either House 
may adjourn them in case of disagreement 
shall receive ambassadors and public ministers 
shall take care that the laws be faithfully exe¬ 
cuted _ _ _ - _ 

shall commission all officers - - - 

Privileges and immunities of members of Congress 

of citizens. (See Citizens, also Rights.) 
Property, Congress to provide for the care of public 

shall not be taken for public use, without just 
compensation, 5th amendment 
Punishments, cruel and unusual, prohibited 


Art. 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

1 

4 


Q. 


Quorum, for business, what shall be - - - I 

of States, in choosing a President by the House 
of Representatives - - - - 2 

Quartered, no soldier to be quartered on a citizen - - 


R. 


Receipts and expenditures, accounts of, to be published - 1 

Records, how to be authenticated - - - 4 

Religion, no law to be made, free exercise of - - - 

religious test not required - » - 6 


Sec. Page. 

25 

1 12 

I 12 

1 12 

27 

1 13 

1 14 

I 14 

1 14 

4 16 

2 14 

2 14 

2 15 

2 15 

2 15 

2 15 

3 15 

3 15 

3 15 

3 15 

3 15 

3 15 

6 7 

3 18 

26 
26 


5 6 

1 13 

25 


9 11 

1 17 

25 
20 


Index to the Constitution. 


35 


Reprieves, granted by the President - - - 2 

Representatives, House of, composed of members chosen 

every second year - - 1 

qualifications of voters - 1 

qualifications of members - 1 

apportionment of •• - 1 

vacancies, how supplied - 1 

shall choose their officers - 1 

shall have the power of im¬ 
peachment ^ - - 1 

shall be the judge of the elec¬ 
tion and qualifications of its 
members - - - 1 

what shall be a quorum - 1 

any number may adjourn and 
compel the attendance of ab¬ 
sentees - - - 1 

may determine the rules of pro¬ 
ceeding - - - 1 

may punish or expel a member 1 

shall keep a journal and publish 
the same - ” - - 1 

shall not adjourn for more than 
three days, nor to any other 
place, without the consent 
of the Senate - - 1 

one-fifth may require the yeas 
and nays - - - 1 

shall originate bills for raising 

revenue - - - 1 

compensation to be ascertained 
by law - - - 1 

privileged from arrest, except 
in certain cases - - 1 

Representatives, shall not be questioned for speech or de¬ 
bate in the House - - - 1 

shall not be appointed to office - - 1 

shall not serve as electors of President - 2 

and direct taxes apportioned according to 
numbers - - - - 1 

Representation of a State, vacancies in, supplied until a 

new election by executive authority - 1 

Resolution, order, or vote, requiring the concurrence of both 

Houses, to undergo the formalities of bills - 1 

Revenue hills, to originate in the House of Representatives 1 
Rights of the citizen declared to be— 

privileges of citizens of the several 
States - - - - 4 


Sec. Page. 
2 15 

2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 

2 


5 

5 


5 

5 

5 

5 


5 

5 
7 

6 

6 

6 

6 

1 

2 

2 

7 

7 


2 IS 


<JC30 W ^ ,35 Q, 05 Oio Ci C50J 


36 


Index to the Constitution. 


r 


Art. 

Rights of the. citizen declared to be— 

liberty of conscience in matters of 
religion - - - - 

freedom of speech anJ of the press - 
to assemble and petition - - - 

to keep and bear arms - - - 

to be exempt from the quartering 
of soldiers - - - - 

to be secure from unreasonable 
searches and seizures - - - 

to be free from answering for a 
crime, unless on presentment or 
indictment of a jury - - - 

not to be twice jeopardized for the 
same offence - - - _ 

not to be compelled to be a witness 
against himself - - - 

not to be deprived of life, liberty, or 
property, without due course of 
law - - - - - 

private property not to be taken for 
public use - - - - 

in criminal prosecutions, shall en¬ 
joy the right of a speedy trial by 
jury, with all the means necessa¬ 
ry for his defence - - - 

in civil cases, trial to be by a jury, 
and shall only be re-examined 
according to common law - - 

excessive bail shall not be required, 
excessive fines imposed, nor cruel 
or unusual punishments inflicted - 
enumeration of certain rights shall 
not operate against retained rights - 
R uks, each House shall determine its own - - 1 


Sec. Page. 


2.5 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

- 25, 26 

26 
26 

26 

26 


26 

26 

26 

27 


S. 

Seat of Government, exclusive legislation - - 1 

Searches and seizures, security against - - - _ 

Senate, composed of two Senators from each State - 1 

how chosen, classed, and terms of service - 1 

qualifications of Senators - - - 1 

Vice President to be President of the Senate - 1 

shall choose their officers - - - 1 

shall be the judge of the elections and qualifications 
of its members - - - - 1 

what number shall be a quorum - - - 1 


8 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

5 

5 


10 

25 

4 

4 

5 
5 

5 

6 
6 


Index to the Constitution, 


37 


Art. 

Senate, any number may adjourn, and compel attendance 

of absentees - - _ _ _ j 

may determine its rules - - _ . j 

may punish or expel a member - - _ i 

shall keep a journal and publish the same, except 
parts requiring secrecy - _ . j 

shall not adjourn for more than three days, nor to any 
other place, without the consent of the other House 1 


one-fifth may require the yeas and nays - - l 

may propose amendments to bills for raising revenue 1 
shall try impeachments - - . . j 

efiect of their judgment on impeachment - - 1 

compensation to be ascertained by law - - l 

privileged from arrest - - _ _ j 

not questioned for any speech or debate - - 1 

shall not be appointed to office - - _ | 

Senator shall not be elector - _ _ 2 

Senators and Representatives, elections of, how prescribed 1 
Slaves, their importation may be prohibited after 1808 - 1 


escaping from one State to another may be reclaimed 4 
Soldiers not quartered on citizens - _ _ _ 

Speaker, how chosen - - _ _ _ j 

Speech, freedom of - - _ _ _ _ 

States prohibited from — 


entering into treaty, alliance, or confederation - 1 

granting letters of marque - - _ j 

coining money - - - _ _ 1 

emitting bills of credit - - _ 1 

making any thing a tender but gold and silver coin - 1 

passing bills of attainder, ex post facto laws, or laws 
impairing contract - - _ _ 1 

granting titles of nobility - - - . 1 

laying duties on imports and exports - - l 

laying duties on tonnage - - _ ..1 

keeping troops or ships of war in time of peace - I 
entering into any agreement or contract with an¬ 
other State, or a foreign Power - - 1 

engaging in war - - ~ _ . j 

States, new, may be admitted into the Union - - 4 

may be formed within the jurisdiction of others, or 
by the junction of two or more, with the consent 
of Congress and the Legislatures concerned - 4 
State judges bound to consider treaties, the constitution, 

and the laws under it, as supreme - 6 

State, guarantied a republican form of government; pro¬ 
tected by United States - ~ - 4 

Supreme Court. (See Court, dinti Judiciary.) 

Suits at common law, proceedings - - _ _ 

4 


Sec. 

Page. 

5 

6 

5 

6 

5 

6 

5 

6 

5 

6 

5 

6 

7 

7 

3 

5 

3 

5 

6 

7 

6 

7 

6 

7 

6 

7 

1 

12 

4 

7 

9 

10 

2 

18 

- 

25 

0 

4 

- 

25 

10 

11 

10 

11 

10 

11 

10 

11 

10 

11 

10 

11 

10 

11 

10 

11 

10 

12 

10 

12 

10 

12 

10 

12 

3 

18 


3 

18 

- 

20 

4 

19 


26 


3S 


Index io the Constitution 


T. 

Art. 

Sec. 

Page, 

TaXy diredy according to representation - - - 

1 

2 

3 

shall be laid only in proportion to census 

1 


10 

TaXy on exports, prohibited _ _ - . 

1 


11 

TendcVy what shall be a legal - _ - - 

1 

10 

11 

Ten'itory, or public property, Congress may make rules 




concerning - _ _ _ 

4 

3 

18 

Testy religious, shall not be required - _ - 

6 

- 

20 

Titles. (See Nobility.') 




from foreign State prohibited 

1 

9 

11 

Treasony defined _ . _ _ . 

3 

3 

17 

two witnesses, or confession, necessary for con¬ 




viction - - - - 

3 

3 

17 

punishment of, may be prescribed by Congress - 

3 

3 

17 

Treasuryy money drawn from, only by appropriation 
Treatiesy how made _ _ _ _ - 

1 

9 

11 

2 

o 

15 

the supreme law - - _ _ 

6 

- 

20 

State cannot make _ _ - _ 

V. 

VacaJicieSy happening during the recess, may be filled tem¬ 

1 

10 

11, 12 

porarily by the President - - - 

2 

2 

15 

in representation in Congress,-how filled 

1 

2 

4 

Veto o f the Fresidenty effect of, and proceedings on 

1 

7 

7 

]7ce Fresident of the United States — 




to be President of the Senate 

1 

3 

5 

how elected - _ _ - 

2 

1 

13 

amendment _ _ - _ 

— 

— 

27, 28 

shall, in certain cases, discharge the duties 




of President - - - _ 

2 

1 

14 

may be removed by impeachment 

2 

4 

16 

Vote of one House requiring the concurrence of the other - 

1 

7 

8 

W. 




IV'hr, Congress to declare _ « _ _ 

1 

8 

9 

Warrants for searches and seizures, when and how they 




shall issue, 4th amendnrent - - _ 



25 

WitnesSy in criminal cases, no one compelled to be against 




himself, 5th amendment - ^ - 


_ 

26 

Weights and measuresy standard of - - - 

1 

8 

9 


Y. 


Yem and 7iays entered on the Journal 


^ I 5 6 


R€LES AXD ORDERS 


OF 


THE HOrSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 


i.5 IX FOKCE AT 


THE CLCSE OF THE FIRST, OR EXTR.A, SESSION 

OF TEi: 


TWEXTY-SEVENTn CONGRESS- 


REVISED AXD CORRECTED, 

OTTII NOTES AND REFERENCES, AND THE DATE OF THE ADOPTION OF EACH 
ECLE, AND OF ALL ALTERATIONS AND A3IENDNIENTS THEREOF^ 

AL50 

A COPIOUS INDEX. 

BY SAMUEL. BURCHE- 

DECEMBER 6. 


IS-12 












iiides —[ 1 — 4 .] 


41 


STANDING RULES AND ORDERS 

COXDUCTIXG BT7SIXESS IX THE HOUSE OF REFRESSXTATIVES OF THE 
UXITED STATES, 


Touching the Duty of the Speaker, 

1. He shall take the chair every day precisely at the 
hour to which the House shall have adjourned on the 
preceding day; shall immediately call the members to 
order; and, on the appearance of a quorum, shall cause 
the Journal of the preceding day to be read.— April 7, 1789. 

2. He shall preserve order and decorum; may speak 
to points of order in preference to other members, rising 
from his seat for that purpose ; and shall decide questions 
of order, subject to an appeal to the House by any two 
members— April 7, 1789; on which appeal no member 
shall speak more than once, unless by leave of the House.— 
December 

3. He shall rise to put a question, but may state it sitting.— 
April 7, 1789. 

4. Questions shall be distinctly put in this form, to wit: 
i ^^As many as are of opinion that (as the question may be) 

I say Ay and, after the affirmative voice is expressed, 

I As many as are of the contrary opinion, say NoP If 
I the Speaker doubt, or a division be called for, the House 

shall divide: those in the affirmative of the question shall 
first rise from their seats, and afterwards those in the 
negative.^ If the Speaker still doubt, or a count be re- 

* The manner of dividing the House, as originally established by the rule 
of April 7, 1789, was, that the members who voted in the affirmative went 
to the right of the Chair, those of the negative to the left. This was, doubt¬ 
less, taken from the old practice of the House of Commons of England. The 
passing of the members to and fro across the House was found so incon¬ 
venient, and took up so much time, that the mode of dividing the House 
was, on the 9th June, 1789, changed to the present form, the members of 
4^ 





42 


Rules—[S —7.] 

quiredj the Speaker shall name two members, one from 
each side, to tell the members in the affirmative; which 
being reported, he shall then name two others, one from 
each side, to tell those in the negative ; which being also 
reported, he shall rise, and state the decision to the 
House .—Mpril 7, 1789. No division and count of the 
House by tellers shall be in order, but upon motion second¬ 
ed by at least one-fifth of a quorum of the members.— Sep^ 
tember 15,1837. 

5. When any motion or proposition is made, the ques¬ 
tion, ‘-Will the House now consider it?” shall not be 
put, unless it is demanded by some member, or is deemed 
necessary by the Speaker .—December 12, 1817. 

6. The Speaker shall examine and correct the Journal 
before it is read. He shall have a general direction of 
the Hall. He shall have a right to name any member to 
perform the duties of the chair, but such substitution shall 
not extend beyond an adjournment .—December 23, 1811. 

7. All committees shall be appointed by the Speaker, 
unless otherwise specially directed by the House, in which 
case they shall be appointed by ballot;^ and if, upon such 
ballot, the number required shall not be elected by a ma¬ 
jority of the votes given, the House shall proceed to a 
second ballot, in which a plurality of votes shall prevail; 

each side of the question rising in their seats and being there counted. The 
House of Commons has also changed their manner of dividing. There are 
now two rooins adjoining the Hall—one on each end of the Hall: one appro¬ 
priated to those who intend to vote in the afiirmative, the other to the nega¬ 
tive. When the House divides every member withdraws into one or the 
other of those rooms, and the door is closed. A clerk is then stationed at 
each door, and the members return into the Hall two by two, and, as 
they pass, each man deposiles his name, written on a card or piece of 
paper, in a box held by the clerk. The clerk also holds an alphabetical list 
of members in his hand, and marks each member as he enters. In this way 
all divisions in the House of Commons are determined. There is no calling 
of yeas and nays as in Congress. It is ascertained on which side every 
member votes by his ticket or card, and it takes much less time than the mode 
pursued in the HoU'C, nor is it so liable to error. 

The rule, as originally adopted, April 7, 1789, directed that the Speaker 
should appoint all committees, unless the number was directed to consist of 
more than three members; in which case the ballot w'as to be resorted to. 




43 


Hides —[ 8 — 10 .] 

and, ill case a greater number than is required to com¬ 
pose or complete a committee shall have an equal number 
of votes, the House shall proceed to a farther ballot or 
ballots .—January 13,1790. 

S. The first named member of any committee shall be 
the chairman; and in his absence, or "being excused by the 
House, the next named member, and so on, as often as the 
case shall happen, unless the committee, by a majority of 
their number, elect a cliairman .'^—December 20, 1805. 

9. It shall be the duty of a committee to meet on the 
call of any two of its members, if the chairman be absent, 
or decline to appoint such meeting .—December 20, 1805. 

10. In all other cases of ballot than for committees, a 
majority of the votes given shall be necessary to an 
election; and where there shall not be such a majority 
on the first ballot, the ballot shall be repeated until a 
majority be obtained .—Jlpril 7, 1789. And in all ballot- 
ings blanks shall be rejected and not taken into the count 
in the enumeration of votes, or reported by the tellers.— 
September 15, 1837. 


* I'he occasion of this rule was this: Mr. John Cotton Smith, of Con¬ 
necticut, had been chairman of the Committee of Claims for several years, 
and, on the 5th November, 1804, was reappointed. On the succeeding day 
he was excused from service on the committee, and his colleague, Samuel 
W. Dana, was appointed “in his stead.” The committee considered Mr. 
Dana its chairman; he declined to act, contending that he was the tail. 
Being unable to agree, the committee laid the case before the House on the 
20th November. Up to this time there was no rule or regulation as to the 
head of a committee; the usage had been that the lirst named member acted; 
but it was usage only. The subject was referred to a committee. On the 
22d November, 1804, the committee reported, and recommended that the 
first named member be the chairman ; and in case of his absence, or of his 
being excused by the House, the committee should appoint a chairman, by a 
majority of its votes. The House rejected this proposition. The Committee 
of Claims, the next day, notified the House that, unless some order was taken 
in the premises, no business could be done by the committee during the ses¬ 
sion: and thereupon, on the 20th December, 1805, the House adopted the above 
rule. In this case the Committee of Claims availed itself of the privilege con¬ 
tained in the last clause of the rule, and elected Mr. Dana chairman, much 
against his wishes. 




44 


[ 11 — 16 .] 


11. In all cases of election * by the House, the Speaker 
shall vote; in other cases he shall not vote, unless the House 
be equally divided, or unless his vote, if given to the mi¬ 
nority, will make the division equal; and, in case of such 
equal division, the question shall be lost .—\Jipril 7, 1789. 

12. In all cases where other than members of the House 
may be eligible to an office by the election of the House, 
there shall be a previous nomination .—April 7, 1789. 

13. In all cases of election by the House, of its officers, 
the vote shall be taken viva voce.—December 10, 1839. 

14. All acts, addresses, and joint resolutions, shall be 
signed by the Speaker; and all writs, warrants, and sub¬ 
poenas, issued by order of the House, shall be under his 
hand and seal, attested by the Clerk .—November 13, 1794. 

15. In case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct 
in the galleries or lobby, the Speaker (or Chairman of 
the Committee of the Whole House) shall have power to 
order the same to be cleared .—March 14, 1794. 

16. No person, except members of the Senate, their 
Secretary, Heads of Departments, Treasurer, Comp¬ 
trollers, Register, Auditors, Postmaster General, Presi¬ 
dent’s Secretary, Chaplains to Congress, Judges of the 
United States, Foreign Ministers and their Secretaries— 
December 23, 1811, officers who, by name, have received, 
or shall hereafter receive, the thanks of Congress for their 
gallantry and good conduct displayed in the service of their 
country, the Commissioners of the Navy Boar.d, Governor, 
for the time being, of any State of Territory in the Union, 
who may attend at the seat of the General Government 


* The word here used in the original formation of the rule was election. 
On the 14th January, 1840, it was changed to the word ballot. 

f On a very important question, taken December 9, 1803, on an amend¬ 
ment to the Constitution, so as to change the form of voting for President 
and Vice President, which required a vote of two-thirds, there appeared 83 
in the affirmative, and 42 in the negative ; it wanted one vote in the affirma¬ 
tive to make the constitutional majority. The Speaker, (Macon,) notwith¬ 
standing this prohibition of the rule, claimed and obtained his right to vote, 
and voted in the affirmative; and it was by that vote that the amendment to 
the Constitution was carried. 



45 


Bules~[17~l8.] 

during the session of Congress, and Avho may choose to 
avail himself of such privilege, such gentlemen as have 
been Heads of Departments, or members of either branch 
of the Legislature—December 23, 1811, and, at the dis¬ 
cretion of the Speaker, persons who belong to such Legis¬ 
latures of foreign Governments as are in amity with the 
United States, shall be admitted within the Hall of the 
House of Representatives ."^—March 13, 1822. 

17. Stenographers, wishing to take down the debates, 
may be admitted by the Speaker, who shall assign such 
places to them on the floor or elsewhere, to effect their 
object, as shall not interfere with the convenience of the 
House .—January 7, 1802 ; modified to present form, De¬ 
cember 23, 1811. 

18 . No person shall be allowed the privilege of the Hall, 
under the character of stenographer, without a written per- 

* The first rule for the admission within the Hall of other than members, 
was adopted on the 7th of January, 1802, and was confined to Senators^ 
officers of the General and State Governments, Foreign Ministers, and such 
persons as members might introduce.” On the 11th January, 1802, an at¬ 
tempt was made to amend so as to exclude persons “ introduced by mem¬ 
bers,” which failed. On the 8th November, 1804, a proposition was made 
to confine the privilege to Senators^ which also failed. On the 17th Decem¬ 
ber, 1805, officers of State Gowmwzen/s were excluded. On 1st February, 
1808, a proposition was made to admit ex-members of Congress and the 
Judges of the Supreme Court; after a good deal of debate it was rejected. 
On the 11th February, 1809, the rule was enlarged so as to admit judicial 
officers of the United States, and of the States, as also ex-members of Con¬ 
gress. On 25th February, 1814, those who had been Heads of Departments 
were admitted. On the 10th February, 1815, officers who had received the 
thanks of Congress were included. On the 12th January, 1810, the Navy 
Commissioners. On the 2lst February, 1816, Governors of States and Ter¬ 
ritories. March 13, 1822, the President's Secretary. On the 26th January, 
1833, the rule was further enlarged by admitting such persons as the Speaker 
or a member might introduce and on the 10th December, 1833, the House, 

. by a vote almost unanimous, rescinded that amendment. It has undergone 
r no amendment since. 

This rule has been much abused by admitting members of State Legisla¬ 
tures, under the clause relating to Legislatures of Foreign Governments. To 
show how little ground there is for this construction, the House, on the 26th 
December, 1821, and 2d January, 1835, rejected motions to admit members 
of State Legislatures. 



46 


Rules —[ 19 — 22 .] 

mission from the Speaker, specifying the part of the Hall 
assigned to him ; and no reporter or stenographer shall 
be admitted under the rules of the House, unless sucli 
reporter or stenographer shall state, in writing, for what 
paper or papers he is employed to report .—March 1, 1838. 

19. The Doorkeeper shall execute strictly the 16th and 
17th rules, relative to the privilege of the Hall .—March 1, 
1838. 

20. The Clerk of the House shall take an oath for the 
true and fathful discharge of the duties of his office, to the 
best of his knowledge and abilities —April 13, 1789; and 
act June 1^/, 1789. He shall be deemed to continue in 
office until another be appointed .'^—March 1, 1791. 

Order of Business of the Session. 

21. After six days from the commencement of a second 
or subsequent session of any Congress, all bills, resolu¬ 
tions, and reports, which originated in the House, and at 
the close of the next preceding session remained unde¬ 
termined, shall be resumed and acted on in the same man¬ 
ner as if an adjournment had not taken place .—March 17, 
1818. 


Order of Business of the Day. 

22. As soon as the Journal is read, the Speaker shall 
call for petitions from the members of each State, and 
delegates from each Territory, beginning with Mainet— 

* There is no law, resolution, rule, or order, directing the appointment of 
the Clerk of the House. On the 1st of April, 1789, being the first day that 
a quorum of the House assembled under the new Constitution, the House 
immediately elected a Clerk by ballot, without a previous order having been 
passed for that purpose; although, in the case of the Speaker, who was chosen 
on the same day, an order was previously adopted. A Clerk has been regu¬ 
larly chosen at the commencement of every Congress since. 

-j-This was adopted before the State of Maine came into the Union ; and 
the call commenced with New Hampshire. On the 13th March, 1823, it 
was altered so as to commence with Maine. 



Rules —[ 23 — 25 .] 


47 


December 23, ISl 1, and the Territory of Wiskonsan, * alter 
nately— September 15,1S37; and if, on any day, the whole 
of the States and Territories shall not be called, the Speak¬ 
er shall begin on the next day where he left off the pre¬ 
vious day— December 23, 1811; provided that, after the 
first thirty days of the session, petitions shall not be re¬ 
ceived, except on the first day of the meeting of the 
House in each week.— March 13, 1822. 

23. No petition, memorial, resolution, or other paper 
praying the abolition of slavery in the District of Colum¬ 
bia, or any State or Territory, or the slave-trade between 
the States or Territories of the United States in which it 
now exists, shall be received by this House, or entertained 
in any way whatever.— January 28, 1840. 

24. The petitions having been presented and disposed 
of, reports from committees shall be called for and disposed 
oi—December 23, 1811; in doing which, the Speaker shall 
call upon each standing committee, in the order they are 
named in the 76th and 104th rules; and when all the stand¬ 
ing committees have been called on, then it shall be the duty 
of the Speaker to call for reports from select committees; 
if the Speaker shall not get through the call upon the com¬ 
mittees before the House passes to other business, he shall 
resume the next call where he left off.— September 15, 

I 1837. Resolutions shall then be called for in the same or- 
j der, and disposed of by the same rules which apply to peti¬ 
tions : provided that no member shall offer more than one 
resolution, or one series of resolutions, all relating to the 
same subject, until all the States and Territories shall 
have been called.— January 14, 1829. 

25. All the States and Territories shall be called for 
resolutions on each alternate Monday during each session 
of Congress; and, if necessary to secure this object on said 
days, all resolutions which shall give rise to debate shall lie 


* This rule was adopted before Iowa was constituted a Territory ; and, al¬ 
though no order has been taken by the House, the Speaker substitutes Iowa 
for Wiskonsan. 





48 


Rules —[ 26 — 27 .] 


over for discussion, under the rules of the House already 
established; and the whole of said days shall be appropri¬ 
ated to resolutions, until all the States and Territories are 
called through.— February 6, 1838. 

26. After one hour shall have been devoted to reports 
from committees, and resolutions, it shall be in order, 
pending the consideration or discussion thereof, to enter¬ 
tain a motion that the House do now procceed to dispose 
of the business on the Speaker’s table, and to the orders 
of the day— January 5, 1832 ; which being decided in the 
affirmative, the Speaker shall dispose of the business on 
his table in the following order, viz:— September 14, 1837. 
1st. Messages and other Executive communications.— Sep¬ 
tember 14, 1837. 

2d. Messages from the Senate, and amendments proposed 
by the Senate to bills of the House.— September 14, 
1837. 

3d. Bills and resolutions from the Senate on their first and 
second reading, that they be referred to committees and 
put under way; but if, on being read a second time, no 
motion be made to commit, they are to be ordered to 
their third reading, unless objection be made; in which 
case, if not otherwise ordered by a majority of the House, 
they are to be laid on the table in the general file of bills 
on the Speaker’s table, to be taken up in their turn.— 
September 14, 1837. 

4th. Engrossed bills and bills from the Senate on their 
third reading.— September 14, 1837. 

5th. Bills of the House and from the Senate, on the Speak¬ 
er’s table, on their engrossment, or on being ordered to 
a third reading, to be taken up and considered in the 
order of time in which they passed to a second reading. 
The messages, communications, and bills on his table 
having been disposed of, the Speaker shall then proceed to 
call the orders of the day.— September 14, 1837. 

27. The business specified in the 24th and 26th rules 
shall be done at no other part of the day, except by per¬ 
mission of the House.— December 23, 1811. 


[2S—32.] At) 

Local or Private Busmess. 

28 . Friday and Saturday in every week shall be set 
apart for the consideration of private bills and private 
business, in preference to any other, unless otherwise de¬ 
termined by a majority of the House.— January 22, 1810, 
and January 26, 1826.^ 

29. On the first and fourth Friday of each month the 
calendar of private bills shall be called over, and the bills 
to the passage of which no objection shall then be made 
shall be first considered and disposed of.— January 25, 
1839. 

Of Decor um and Debate. 

30. When any member is about to speak in debate, or 
deliver any matter to the House, he shall rise from his seat, 
and respectfully address himself to ^^Mr. Speaker’’— 

I Jlpril 7,1789 ; and shall confine himself to the question un- 
I der debate, and avoid personality. — December 23, 1811. 

31. jVo member shall be allowed to speak more than 
: one hour to any question.— July 7, 184l.t 

j 32. If any member, in speaking or otherwise, transgress 
I the rules of the House, the Speaker shall, or any member 
j may, call to order ; in which case, the member so called to 
order shall immediately sit down, unless permitted to ex¬ 
plain ; and the House shall, if appealed to, decide on the 
case, but without debate : if there be no appeal, the decis¬ 
ion of the Chair shall be submitted to. If the decision be 
in favor of the member called to order, he shall be at liberty 
to proceed; if otherwise, he shall not be permitted to pro¬ 
ceed, in case any member object, tvithout leave of the 


* Under the rule of 26th April, 1828, relative to a postponement or change 
of the order of business, it has been decided that it takes two-thirds to pro¬ 
ceed to public business on Friday and Saturday. The reason of this decis¬ 
ion is, that the rule of 26th April, 1828, made no exception in favor of the 
clause for a majority, contained in this rule, and that therefore that provis¬ 
ion vvas annulled. There have been three appeals upon this point, but the 
House in all instances adirmed the decision in favor of two-thirds. 

-j- Although this was not finally adopted as a rule of the House, until the 
7th July, 1841, motions had been repeatedly made to the same effect, for 
about 20 years preceding. 

5 




50 


Utiles —[33—37.] 


House ; * and, if the case require it, he shall be liable to the 
censure of the House.— Jlpril 7, 1789, and March 13, 1822. 

33. If a member be called to order for words spoken m 
debate, the person calling him to order shall repeat the 
words excepted to, and they shall be taken down in writing 
at the Clerk’s table; and no member shall be held to an¬ 
swer, or be subject to the censure of the House, for words 
spoken in debate, if any other member has spoken, or other 
business has intervened, after the words spoken, and be¬ 
fore exception to them shall have been taken .—September 
14, 1837. 

34. When two or more members happen to rise at once, 
the Speaker shall name the member who is first to speak.— 
Jlpril 7, 1789. 

35. No member shall speak more than once to the same 
question, without leave of the Houset— 1th April, 1789, 
unless he be the mover, proposer, or introducer, of the 
matter pending; in which case he shall be permitted to 
speak in reply, but not until every member choosing to 
speak shall have spoken .—January 14, 1840. 

36. If a question depending be lost by adjournment of 
the House, and revived on the succeeding day, no member, 
who shall have spoken on the preceding day, shall be 
permitted again to speak without leave.f— April 7, 1759. 

37. While the Speaker is putting any question, or ad¬ 
dressing the House, none shall walk out of or across the 

* That part of this rule which is printed in italic was adopted on the 
13lh March, 1822, with the exception of the words “in case any member 
object,” which were inserted on the 14th September, 1837. 

f This rule, as originally adopted, on the 7th April, 1789, permitted a 
member to speak twice^ and ended with the word House. It remained un¬ 
changed until the 14th January, 1840, when it was established as it now 
stands. 

+ There is no proceeding in the House to which this rule can be ap¬ 
plied. It was originally framed in reference to that law of Parliament which 
s.ays that all pending questions are lost by adjournment, and to be again con¬ 
sidered must be moved anew. In the rules as revised and established on 
the 7th January, 1802, the prohibition to speak on the next day was con- 
lined to those who had spoken twice on the preceding day. It so remained 
until the 14th January, 1840, when the word twice was left out. 



Rules —[38—42.] 


51 


House ; nor, in such case, or when a member is speaking, 
shall entertain private discourse; nor, while a member is 
speaking, shall pass between him and the Chair.— »/lpril 
7,1789. Every member shall remain uncovered during 
the session of the House.— September 14, 1837. No 
member or other person shall visit or remain by the Clerk’s 
table while the ayes and noes are calling, or ballots are 
counting.— September 14, 1837. 

38. No member shall vote on any question in the event 
of which he is immediately and particularly interested, or 
in any case where he was not within the bar of the House 
when the question was put.*— April 7, 1789. And when 
any member shall ask leave to vote, the Speaker shall pro¬ 
pound to him the question—“ Were you within the bar 
when your name was called —September 14, 1837. 

39. Upon a division and count of the House on any 
question, no member without the bar shall be counted.— 
November 13, 1794. 

40. Every member who shall be in the House when the 
question is put shall give his vote, unless the House, for 
special reasons, shall excuse him.— April 7, 1789. All 
motions to excuse a member from voting, shall be made 
before the House divides, or before the call of the yeas and 
nays is commenced; and any member requesting to be 
excused from voting may make a brief verbal statement 
of the reasons for making such request, and the question 
shall then be taken without further debate.— September 
14, 1837. 

41. When a motion is made and seconded, it shall be 
stated by the Speaker; or, being in writing, it shall be 
handed to the Chair, and read aloud by the Clerk, before 
debated.— Aprill^ 1789. 

42. Every motion shall be reduced to writing, if the 
Speaker or any member desire it.— April 7, 1789. Every 
written motion made to the House shall be inserted on 

* As originally adopted, the word present was used in this rule where the 
words within the bar of the House’' now appear. The alteration was made 
on the 14th September, 1837. 



[43—45.] 


the Journals, with the name of the member making it, un¬ 
less it be withdrawn on the same day on which it was 
submitted .—March 26, 1806. 

43. After a motion is stated by the Speaker, or read by 
the Clerk, it shall be deemed to be in the possession of tiie 
House, but ma}?- be withdrawn at any time before a de¬ 
cision or amendment .—Ajnil 7, 1789. 

44. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be 
received but to adjourn, to lie on the table, for tlie previous 
question, to postpone to a day certain, to commit or amend, 
to postpone indefinitely; which several motions shall have 
precedence in the order in which they are arranged"^— 
March 13, 1822; and no motion to postpone to a day 
certain, to commit, or to postpone indefinitely, being de¬ 
cided, shall be again allowed on the same day, and at the 
same stage of the bill or proposition. A motion to strike 
out the enacting words of a bill shall have precedence of a. 
motion to amend, and, if carried, shall be considered equiv¬ 
alent to its rejection .—March 13, 1822. 

45. When a resolution shall be offered, or a motion 
made, to refer any subject, and different committees shall 
be proposed, the question shall be taken in the following 
order: 

The Committee of the Whole House on the state of the 
Union; the Committee of the Whole House; a Standing 
Committee; a Select Committee .—March 13, 1822. 


* This rule, as originally established, April 7, 1789, read thus: “When a 
question is under debate, no motion shall be received unless to amend it, to 
commit it for the previous question, or to adjourn." On the 1.3th Novem¬ 
ber, 1794, the motion to postpone to a dai/ certain was introduced rrext 
after the previous question. On the 17th December, 1805, the rule was 
changed as follows : 1st, the previous question ; 2d, to postpone indefinitely; 
3d, to postpone to a day certain ; 4th, to lie; 5th, to commit; Gth, to 
amend; 7th, to adjourn. On the 23d December, 1811, the order was 
changed as follows : 1st, to adjourn ; 2d, to lie ; 3d, the previous question ; 
4th, to postpone indefinitely; 5th, to postpone to a day certain ; 6th, to 
commit; 7th, to amend. On the 13lh March, 1822, they were classed as 
above, and were declared, for the first time, to have precedence according to 
their arrangement; previous to which, the notions of the Speaker often gov¬ 
erned as to the precedence of these motions ; and hence the direction of the 
rule. 




[ 46 — 48 .] 


53 


46. A motion to adjourn, and a motion to fix the 
day to which the House shall adjourn, shall be always in 
order —April 7, 1789, and January 14, 1840; these 
motions, and the motion to lie on the table, shall be decided 
without debate.t —November 1794; March 13, 1822. 

47. The hour at which every motion to adjourn is made, 
shall be entered on the Journal.— October 9, 1837. 

48. The previous question shall be in this form: “ Shall 
the main question be now put ?”—April 7, 1789. It shall 
only be admitted when demanded by a majority of the 
members presentt —February 24, 1812 ; and its elfects 
shall be to put an end to ail debate, and bring the House to 
a direct vote upon amendments reported by a committee, 
if any, upon pending amendments, and then upon the main 
question .—January 14,1840. On a motion for the previous 
question, and prior to the seconding of the same, a call of 
the House shall be in order; but, after a majority shall 


* It has been decided and acted upon, that, under this rule, ‘^a motion 
to fix the day to which the House shall adjourn,” takes precedence of a mo¬ 
tion to adjourn. The reason of this decision is, that before the House ad¬ 
journed, it was proper to fix the time to which it should adjourn. To this de¬ 
cision and upon this reasoning no objection has been made. 

jin the first rules established by the House on the 7th April, 1789, it 
was directed that “when the House adjourns, the members shall keep their 
seats until the Speaker go forth, and then the members shall follow.” This 
rule was left out of the rules established 13th Novembr, 1794. On the 13th 
March, 1822, a rule was adopted prohibiting a motion to adjourn before 4 
o’clock, if there was a pending question. It was rescinded on the 13th 
March, 1824: on the same day (that is, the 13th March, 1822) a rule was 
also adopted against the rising of the Committee of the Whole before 4 o’clock, 
which was also abrogated on the 25th March, 1824. 

t The previous question was recognised in the rules established April 7, 
1789, and could be demanded by five members, (the Parliamentary law places 
it in the power of two members—one to move, the other to second.) On the 
23d December, 1811, it was placed on a footing with the yeas and nays, that 
is, at the command of one-fifth of the members present. It remained so until 
the 24th February, 1812, when the rule was changed to its present form of a 
majority. Originally, the previous question brought the House to a direct vote 
on the main question, that is, to agree to the md\n propositiony to the exclusion, 
of all amendments and incidental motions. On the 14th January, 1840, it was 
changed to its present form—first, to emhxdiCQ pending amendments, and then 
the main proposition. 

5 ^ 



54 


7? w /es~^[4 9—5 S. j 

have seconded such motion, no call sliall be in order prior 
to a decision of the main question.— September 14, 1837. 

49. On a previous question there shall be no debate.^ 
December 17, 1805. All incidental questions of order 
arising after a motion is made for the previous question, and 
pending such motion, shall be decided, whether on appeal or 
otherwise, without debate.— September 15, 1837. 

50. When a question is postponed indefinitely, the same 
shall not be acted upon again during the session.— Decem¬ 
ber 17, 1805. 

51. Any member may call for the division of a question, 
which shall be divided if it comprehend propositions in 
substance so distinct, that, one being taken away, a sub¬ 
stantive proposition shall remain for the decision of the 
House.— -September 15, 1837. A motion to strike out and 
insert shall be deemed indivisible— December 23, 1811; 
but a motion to strike out being lost, shall preclude nei¬ 
ther amendment, nor a motion to strike out and insert.— 
Marc/i 13,1822. 

52. Motions and reports may be committed at the pleas¬ 
ure of the House.—7, 1789. 

53. No motion or proposition on a subject difierent from 
that under consideration shall be admitted under color of 
amendment.t — March 13,1822. No bill or resolution shall, 
at any time, be amended by annexing thereto, or incorpor¬ 
ating therewith, any other bill or resolution pending before 
the House.!— September 15, 1837. 

* The rules as established 7th April, 1789, allowed each member to 
speak once on the previous question, and so remained until 17th December, 
1805, when debate was prohibited ; yet, on the 15th December, 1807, alter 
the previous question had been ordered, the House, on an appeal from the 
Speaker, reversed his decision, and decided that the main question was open 
to further debate, 103 to 14-—no party vote. This decision was re-affirmed 
by the House, Dec. 2, 1808—ayes 101, noes 18. 

fThis rule was originally established on the 7th of April, 1789, and wa.s 
in these words: “ No ncto motion or proposition shall be admitted, under 
color of amendment, as a suhstituie for the motion or proposition under de¬ 
bate.” On the 1.3lh of March, 1822, it was changed to its present form, in 
which the words neiv” and substitute^' do not appear. 

^ The latter clause of this rule was adopted at iho 1st session of the 25lh 
Congress; and, as originally reported by the committee, the following word* 



55 


58.] 

54. 'W hen a motion has been once made, and carried in 
the affirmative or negative, it shall be in order for any 
member of the majority to move for the reconsideration 
thereof— Janxiary 1, 1802, on the same or the succeeding 
day— December 23, 1811 ; and such motion shall take pre¬ 
cedence of all other questions, except a motion to adjourn.— 
May 6, 1828. 

55. When the reading of a paper is called for, and the 
same is objected to by any member, it shall be determined 
by a vote of the House."^— November 13, 1794. 

56. The unfinished business in which the House was 
engaged at the last preceding adjournment shall have the 
preference in the orders of the day; and no motion on 
any other business shall be received, without special leave 
of the House,until the former is disposed of.— Nov. 13,1794. 

57. Every order, resolution, or vote, to v/hich the con¬ 
currence of the Senate shall be necessary, shall be read 
to the House, and laid on the table, on a day preceding 
that in which the same shall be moved, unless the House 
shall otherwise expressly allow.— * *^pril 7, 1789. 

58. Petitions, memorials, and other papers addressed 
to the House, shall be presented by the Speaker, or by a 
member in his place ; a brief statement of the contents 
thereof shall be made verbally by the introducer; they 
shall not be debated on the day of their being presented ; 
nor on any day assigned by the House for the receipt of 
petitions after the first thirty days of the session, unless 
where the House shall direct otherwise, but shall lie on 


were contained at theend of it: nor by any proposition containing the sub¬ 
stance, in whole or in part, of any other bill or resolution pending before 
the House.'' These words were stricken out by the House before it would 
agree to the rule ; by which it would seem to be decided that a bill or resolu¬ 
tion might be amended by incorporating therein the substance of any other 
bill or resolution before the House. Such has been the general practice of 
the House. 

* As originally adopted, this rule contained after the word “ for,” the words 

which had before been read to the House." They wxre stricken out on the 
14th December, 1795. 



56 


Rules —[59—65.] 

the table, to be taken up in the order in which they were 
presented.*— September 14, 1837. 

59. The name of the member who presents a petition or 
memorial, or who offers a resolution to the consideration 
of the House, shall be inserted on the Journals.— March 
22, 1806. 

60. A proposition requesting information from the Pres¬ 
ident of the United States, or directing it to be furnished 
by the head of cither of the Executive Departments, or 
by the Postmaster General— December 13, 1820, or to 
print an'extra number of any document or other matter, ex¬ 
cepting messages of the President to both Houses at the 
commencement of each session of Congress, and the reports 
and documents connected with or referred to in it, shall lie 
on the table one day for consideration, unless otherwise 
ordered by the unanimous consent of the House— Dec. 
13, 1820 ; and all such propositions shall be taken up for 
consideration in the order they were presented, immedi¬ 
ately after reports are called for from select committees; 
and, when adopted, the Clerk shall cause the same to be de¬ 
livered.— January 22, 1822. 

61. Any fifteen members (including the Speaker, if there 
be one) shall be authorized to compel the attendance of 
absent members.— April 7, 1789. 

62. Upon calls of the House, or in taking the yeas and 
nays on any question, the names of the members shall be 
called alphabetically.— Aprill.) 1789. 

63. Any member may excuse himself from serving on 
any committee at the time of his appointment, if he is then 
a member of two other committees.— April 13, 1789. 

64. No member shall absent himself from the service of 
the House, unless he have leave, or be sick, or unable to 
attend.— April 13, 1789. 

65. Upon the call of the House, the names of the mem¬ 
bers shall be called over by the Clerk, and the absentees 

• With the exception of the clause commencing with the words “ nor 
on any day assigned,” &c., this rule is in substance the same as it was origi¬ 
nally established on the 7th April, 1789. 



57 


Rules —[66—6S.] 

noted ; after which, the names of tlie absentees shall again 
be called over, the doors shall then be shut, and those for 
v/hom no excuse, or insuthcient excuses are made, may, 
by order of those present, if fifteen in number, be taken 
into custody as they appear, or may be sent for and taken 
into custody, wherever to be found, by special messengers 
to be appointed for that purpose ."^—November 13,17S9,anc^ 
December 14, 1795. 

66. When a member shall be discharged from custody, 
and admitted to his seat, the House shall determine 
whether such discharge shall be with or without paying 
fees ; and, in like manner, whether a delinquent member, 
taken into custody by a special messenger, shall, or shall 
not, be liable to defray the expense of such special mes¬ 
senger .—November 13, 1794. 

67. A Sergeant-at-Arms shall be appointed, to hold his 
office during the pleasure of the House, whose duty it shall 
be to attend the House during its sittings ;t to execute the 
commands of the House from time to time; together with 
all such process, issued by authority thereof, as shall be 
directed to him by the Speaker .—April 14, 1789. 

68. The symbol of his office (the mace) shall be borne 
bv the Sergeant-at-Arms when in the execution of his of- 
fice.f—14, 1789. 


* The rule as originally established in relation to a call of the House, which 
w'as on the 13th of November, 1789, differed from the present rule in this: 
there was one day’s notice to be given, and it required a vote of the House^ 
and not fifteen members, to order a member into custody. It was changed 
to its present form on the I4ih December, 1795. On the 7th January, 1802, 
it wms changed back to its original form, to require “anorder of the House” 
to take absent members into custody, and so remained until the 23d Decem¬ 
ber, 1811, when it was again changed to what it now is, i. e. fifteen members. 

I In the rules established November 13, 1794, the Sergeant was empower¬ 
ed to appoint a “special messenger” to execute the commands of the House. 
This authority was stricken from the rules established on the 14th Dec., 1795. 

t At the time this rule was adopted, “a proper symbol of office” for the 
Sergeant-at-Arms was directed to be provided, “of such form and device as the 
Speaker should direct.” 

In pursuance of this order, a mace or “symbol” was procured, which rep¬ 
resented the Roman fasces, made of ebony sticks, bound transversely with a 



5S 


Rules —[69—75.] 


69. The fees of the Sergeant-at-Arms shall be, for every 
arrest, the sum of two dollars; for each day’s custody and 
releasement, one dollar; and for travelling expenses for 
himself or a special messenger, going and returning, one- 
tenth of a dollar per mile.— Jlpril 14, 17S9. 

70. It shall be the duty of the Sergeant-at-Arms to keep 
the accounts for pay and mileage of members, to prepare 
checks, and, if required to do so, to draw the money on such 
checks for the members, (the same being previously signed 
by the Speaker, and endorsed by the member,) and pay 
over the same to the member entitled thereto.— Jipril 4,18 38. 

71. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall give bond, with surety, 
to the United States, in a sum not less than five, nor more 
than ten thousand dollars, at the discretion of the Speak¬ 
er, and with such surety as the Speaker may approve, faith¬ 
fully to account for the money coming into his hands for 
the pay of members.— Jipril 4, 1838. 

72. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall be sworn to keep the 
secrets of theHouse.— December 2S, 1811. 

73. A Doorkeeper and an Assistant Doorkeeper shall be 
appointed for the service of the House.— April 2, 1789. 

74. The Doorkeeper shall be sworn to keep the secrets 
of the House. —December 23, 1811. 

75. The Postmaster, to superintend the Post Office kept 
in the Capitol for the accommodation of the members, 
shall hereafter be appointed by the House.*— April 4,1838. 

thin silver band, terminating in a double tie or beau-knot near the top ; 
at each end a silver band an inch deep, and on the top of each of the rods a 
small silver spear. A stem of silver f of an inch in diameter, and two inch¬ 
es hmg, from the centre of the fasges, supported a globe of silver about 2^ in ’ 
ches in diameter, upon which was an eagle, his claws gra.'^ping the globe and 
just in the act of flight, his w-ings somewhat more than half extended The 
eagle was massive silver, richly carved. The design was fine, and its whole 
execution beautiful; the entire height about three feet. The mace was de¬ 
stroyed at the conflagration of the Capitol on the 24th August, 1814, and has 
never been replaced. The thing now used was hastily gotten up (of com¬ 
mon pine, and painted) for the then next session of Congress, and has been 
tolerated to the present time. 

* Immediately after the organization of the Government under the present 
Constitution, a room was set apart in the Capitol for the reception and dis- 



59 


Rules —[ 76 .] 


76. Twenty-seven standing committees shall be ap¬ 
pointed at the commencement of each session, viz : 


A Committee of Elections,— Nov. 13, 1789. 

A Committee of Ways and Means.— January 7, 1802. 

A Committee of Claims.— Nov. 13, 1794.* * 

A Committee on Commerce.— Dec. 14, 1795.f 
A Committee on the Public Lands.— Dec. 17, 1805.^ 

A (committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.— Nov. )> 
9, 1808.11 

A Committee for the District of Columbia— Jan. 27, 1808. 

A Committee on the Judiciary.— June 3, 1813. 

A Committee on Revolutionary Claims.— December 22, 
1813.* J 


To consist of 
nine mem¬ 
bers each. 


tribution of letters and packets to and from members of the House, without 
an order for that purpose, and was called the Post Office. It was superin¬ 
tended by the Doorkeeper and his assistants. On the 9th of April, 1814, a 
special allowance was made to the Doorkeeper to meet the expenses of this 
office, and he was authorized to appoint a Postmaster. The office continued 
on this footing till April 4, 1838, when an order was passed, as above, for 
the appointment of the Postmaster by the House itself. 

* Originally, the Committee of Claims was charged with revolutionary 
and land claims, and all sorts of pensions. On the 22d December, 1813, 
the duties of that committee were divided, and a committee was appointed 
called the Committee on Pensions and Revolutionary Claims. On the 9th 
of December, 1825, a separate committee on Revolutionary Pensions was 
created, leaving the business of Invalid Pensions to the committee created on 
the 22d December, 1813. On the 13th December, 1825, four days after its 
institution, the designation of the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions was 
changed to the Committee on Military Pensions, and it was charged with 
both Revolutionary and Invalid Pensions. On the 10th January, 1831, the 
(Committee on Military Pensions became the present Committee on Revolu¬ 
tionary Pensions, and an additional committee was created, called the Com¬ 
mittee on Invalid Pensions; and the pension business was apportioned to the 
two committees, as set out in the duties assigned to the committees. 

f This committee was originally a Committee on Commerce and Manu¬ 
factures. On the 8th Dec., 1819, a Committee on Manufactures was consti¬ 
tuted, but no duties have been assigned to that committee in the rules. 

i The 3d January, 1805, was the first time at which it was proposed to 
appoint a Committee on Public Lands. The proposition was then made by’ 
Mr. John Boyle, of Kentucky, and was rejected. On the 17th December, 
1805, the committee was constituted for the first time. Previous to that day 
the business relating to the lands of the United States was sent either to the 
Committee of Claims or to a select committee, and frequently, in parts, to 
both. 

H From the earliest stages of the Government, a select committee was 
annually raised upon the subject of “ the Post Office and Post Roads;” and 





60 


Rules —[ 77 .] 


A Committee on Public Expenditures.— Feb. 26, 1814. 

A Committee on Private Land Claims.— April 29, 

1816.* * 

A Committee on Manufactures.— Dec. 8, 1819.^ 

A Committee on Agriculture .—May 3, 1820.:[- 
A Committee on Indian Affairs.— Dec. 17, 1821.f 
A Committee on Military Affairs .—- March !3, 1822. 

A Committee on the Militia.— December 10, 1835. ! To consist of 

A Committee on Naval Affairs.— March 13, 1822. [ nine mem- 

A Committee on Foreign Affairs.— March 13, 1822. ( bers each. 

A Committee on the Territories.— Dec. 13, 1825. j 

A Committee on Revolutionary Pensions.— December 9, [ 

1825.t I 

A Committee on Invalid Pensions.— Tan. 10, 1831. | 

A Committee on Roads and Canals.— Dec. 15, 1831. J 
A Committee on Patents.— September 15, 1837. 

A Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds.— Sept. | 

15, 1837. I To consist of 

A Committee of Revisal and Unfinished Business.— De- ^ five mem- 
cember 14, 1795. | bers each. 

A Committee of Accounts.— November 7, 1804.11 | 

A Committee on Mileage.— September 15, 1837. J 

77. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Elections 
to examine and report upon the certificates of election, or 
4'jther credentials, of the members returned to serve in this 
House; and to take into their consideration all such peti¬ 
tions, and other matters touching elections and returns, as 
shall or may be presented, or come into question, and be 
referred to them by the House.— November 13, 17S9; No¬ 
vember 13, 1794. 

was always composed of a member from each State. A standim^ committee 
was instituted on the 9th November, 1808, and, like the select committees, 
was directed to be composed of a member from each State. On the 23d De¬ 
cember, 1811, it was directed to be composed of the same number of mem¬ 
bers as the other standing committees. 

* When the Committee on Private Land Claims was first constituted, it 
was composed of five members, two less than the other committees. On the 
19th December, 1817, it was directed to be composed of seven members. 

I There are no duties assigned to the Committees on Manufactures, 
Agriculture, and Indian Affairs, in the rules. 

^ See note (*) preceding page. 

H The Committee of Accounts was first constituted ns a select committee 
on the 7th November, 1804: it was made a standing committee on the 17th 
December, 1805. 




61 


Rules —[78—79.] 

78. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Ways and 
Means to take into consideration all such reports of the 
Treasury Department, and all such propositions relative 
to the revenue, as may be referred to them by the House; 
to inquire into the state of the public debt or the revenue, 
and of the expenditure; and to report, from time to time, 
their opinion thereon; [to examine into the state of the 
several public Departments, and particularly into the laws 
making appropriations of moneys, and to report whether 
the moneys have been disbursed conformably with such 
laws; and also to report, from time to time, such provis¬ 
ions and arrangements as may be necessary to add to the 
economy of the Departments, and the accountability of 
their officers.]*— January 7, 1802. 

In preparing bills of appropriations for other objects, 
the Committee of Ways and Means shall not include ap¬ 
propriations for carrying into effect treaties made by the 
United States ; and where an appropriation bill shall be 
referred to them for their consideration, which contains 
appropriations for carrying a treaty into effect, and for 
other objects, they shall propose such amendments as shall 
prevent appropriations for carrying a treaty into effect be¬ 
ing included in the same bill with appropriations for other 
objects.— January 30, 1819, 

79. It shall also be the duty of the Committee of Ways 
and Means, within thirty days after their appointment, at 
every session of Congress, commencing on the first Mon¬ 
day of December, to report the general appropriation 
bills—for the civil and diplomatic expenses of Govern¬ 
ment ; for the army; for the navy; and for the Indian 

* That portion of the duty of the Committee of Ways and Means which 
is printed within brackets was, originally, adopted on the 7th January, 1802. 
On the 26th February, 1814, the Committee on Public Expenditures was 
created, and added to the list of Standing Committees ; the duties of this 
latter committee are exactly those contained in that portion of the duties of 
the Committee of Ways and Means which is referred to in this note as 
-within brackets.—See rule 89. The words ought to be stricken from the 
specification of the duties of the Committee of Ways and Means. 

& 





62 


Rules —[SO—84.] 


department and Indian annuities; or, in failure thereof, 
the reasons of such failure.— September 14, 1837. 

SO. General appropriation bills shall be in order in pref¬ 
erence to any other bills of a public nature, unless other¬ 
wise ordered by a majority of the House.— Sept. 14, 1837. 

81. No appropriation shall be reported in such general 
appropriation bills, or be in order as an amendment thereto, 
for any expenditure not previously authorized by Jaw— 
September 14, 1837, unless in continuation of appropria¬ 
tions for such public works and objects as are already in 
progress, and for the contingencies for carrying on the 
several departments of the Government.— March 13,1838. 

82. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Claims to 
take into consideration all such petitions and matters or 
things touching claims and demands on the United States 
as shall be presented, or shall or may come in question, and 
be referred to them by the House; and to report their 
opinion thereupon, together with such propositions for re¬ 
lief therein as to them shall seem expedient.— Nov. 13,1794. 

83. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Com¬ 
merce to take into consideration all such petitions and 
matters or things touching the commerce of the United 
States as shall be presented, or shall or may come into 
question, and be referred to them by the House; and to 
report, from time to time, their opinion thereon.— Decem¬ 
ber 14, 1795.^ 

84. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Public 
Lands to take into consideration all such petitions and 
matters or things respecting the lands of the United States 
as shall be presented, or shall or may come in question, 
and be referred to them by the House ; and to report their 
opinion thereon, together with such propositions for relief 
therein as to them shall seem expedient.— Dec. 17, 1805. 

* This committee was originally a Committee on Commerce and Manu¬ 
factures. On the 8th December, 1819, a separate Committee on Manufac¬ 
tures was constituted, and the duties of the original Committee on Commerce 
and Manufactures have been conformed as above, by leaving out the words 
and Manufactures. There are no duties assigned in these rules to the Com¬ 
mittee on Manufactures. 



63 


Rules —[S5—S9.J 

S5. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Post 
Office and Post Roads to take into consideration all such 
petitions and matters or things touching the post office and 
post roads as shall be presented, or may come in question, 
and be referred to them b}^ the House ; and to report their 
opinion thereupon, together with such propositions relative 
thereto as to them shall seem expedient.— November 9, 
1S08. 

86. It shall be the duty of the Committee for the Dis¬ 
trict of Columbia to take into consideration all such peti¬ 
tions and matters or things touching the said District as 
shall be presented, or shall come in question, and be re¬ 
ferred to them by the House; and to report their opinion 
thereon, together with such propositions relative thereto 
as to them shall seem expedient.— January 27, 180S. 

87. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Judi¬ 
ciary to take into consideration such petitions and matters 
or things touching judicial proceedings as shall be pre¬ 
sented, or may come in question, and be referred to them 
by the House; and to report their opinion thereupon, to¬ 
gether with such propositions relative thereto as to them 
shall seem expedient.— June 3, 1813. 

88. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Revolu¬ 
tionary Claims to take into consideration all such petitions 
and matters or things touching claims and demands origi¬ 
nating in the revolutionary war, or arising therefrom, as 
shall be presented, or shall or may come in question, and 
be referred to them by the House; and to report their 
opinion thereupon, together with such propositions for 
relief therein as to them shall seem expedient.— December 
22, 1813. 

89. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Public 
Expenditures to examine into the state of the several 
public Departments, and particularly into laws making 
appropriations of money, and to report whether the mon¬ 
eys have been disbursed conformably with such laws; 
and also to report, from time to time, such provisions and 
arrangements as may be necessary to add to the economy 


64 


I^iihs —[90—95. j 

of the Departments, and the accountability of their ofli- 
cers.*'— February 26, 1814. 

90. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Private 
Land Claims to take into consideration all claims to land 
which may be referred to them, or shall or may come in 
question; and to report their opinion thereu]>on, together 
with such propositions for relief therein as to them shall 
seem expedient.— Jijiril 29, 1816. 

91. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Military 
Affairs to take into consideration all subjects relating to 
the military establishment and public defence, which may 
be referred to them by the House, and to report their 
opinion thereupon; and also to report, from time to time, 
such measures as may contribute to economy and account¬ 
ability in the said establishment.— March 13, 1822. 

92. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Militia 
to take into consideration and report on ail subjects con¬ 
nected with the organizing, arming, and disciplining the 
militia of the United States.— December 10, 1835. 

93. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Naval 
Affairs to take into consideration all matters which concern 
the naval establishment, and which shall be referred to 
them by the House, and to report their opinion thereupon ; 
and also to report, from time to time, such measures as may 
contribute to economy and accountability in the said estab¬ 
lishment.— March 13, 1822. 

94. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs to take into consideration all matters which concern 
the relations of the United States with foreign nations, and 
which shall l>e referred to them by the House, and to re¬ 
port their opinion on the same.— March 13, 1822. 

95. It shall be the duty of the Committee on the Terri¬ 
tories to examine into the legislative, civil, and criminal 
proceedings of the Territories, and to devise and report to 

* See Note to Rule 78 :—And further, on the 30th March, 1816, six Com¬ 
mittees on Expenditures in the several Departments of the Government were 
created and added to the list of Standing Committees. The duties assigned 
to these several committees would seem entirely to cover the duties of the 
Committee on Public Expenditures. See Rules 104 and 105. 



65 


Rules —[96—102.] 

the House such means as, in their opinion, may be neces¬ 
sary to secure the rights and privileges of residents and non¬ 
residents.— December 13, 1825. 

96. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Revolu¬ 
tionary Pensions to take into consideration all such matters 
respecting pensions for services in the revolutionary war, 
other than invalid pensions, as shall be referred to them by 
the House.— January 10, 1831. 

97. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Invalid 
Pensions to take into consideration all such matters respect¬ 
ing invalid pensions as shall be referred to them by the 
House.— January 10, 1831. 

98. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Roads and 
Canals to take into consideration all such petitions and 
matters or things relating to roads and canals, and the im¬ 
provement of the navigation of rivers, as shall be pre¬ 
sented, or may come in question, and be referred to them 
by the House ; and to report thereupon, together with such 
proposilions relative thereto as to them shall seem expe¬ 
dient.— December 15, 1831. 

99. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Patents to 
consider all subjects relating to patents which may be re¬ 
ferred to them; and report their opinion thereon, together 
with such propositions relative thereto as may seem to them 
expedient.— September 15, 1837. 

100. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Public 
Buildings and Grounds to consider all subjects relating to 
the public edifices and grounds within the city of Wash¬ 
ington which may be referred to them; and report their 
opinion thereon, together with such propositions relating 
thereto as may seem to them expedient.— Sept. 15, 1837. 

101. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Revisal 
and Unfinished Business to examine and report what laws 
have expired, or are near expiring, and require to be re¬ 
vived or further continued; also, to examine and report, 
from the Journal of last session, all such matters as were 
then depending and undetermined.— December 14, 1795. 

102. It shall be the duty of the Committee of Accounts 

6^ 



66 


Joules—[103—lOS.] 

to superintend and control the expenditures of the contin¬ 
gent fund of the House of Representatives— Novembei' 7, 
1804; also to audit and settle all accounts which may he 
charged thereon; and also to audit the accounts of the 
members for their travel to and from the seat of Govern¬ 
ment, and their attendance in the House.*— Dec. 23, 1811. 

103. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Mileage to 
ascertain and report the distance to the Sergeant-at-Arins 
for which each member shall receive pay.t— Sept. 15, 1837. 

104. Six additional standing committees shall be ap¬ 
pointed at the commencement of the first session in each 
Congress, whose duties shall continue until the first session 
of the ensuing Congress.— March 30, 1816. 

1. A committee on so much of the public accounts and ex-' 
pendiUires as relate to the Department of State ; 

3. A committee on so much of the public accounts and ex¬ 
penditures as relate to the Treasury Department; 

3. A committee on so much of the public accounts and ex¬ 

penditures as relate to the Department of War ; 

4. A committee on so much of the public accounts and ex¬ 

penditures as relate to the Department of the Navy ; 

5. A committee on so much of the public accounts and ex¬ 

penditures as relate to the Post Office ; and 

6. A committee on so much of the public accounts and ex¬ 

penditures as relate to the Public Buildings ; 

105. It shall be the duty of the said committees to ex¬ 
amine into the state of the accounts and expenditures 
respectively submitted to them, and to inquire and report 
particularly— 

Whether the expenditures of the respective Depart¬ 
ments are justified by law : 

Whether the claims from time to time satisfied and dis¬ 
charged by the. respective Departments are supported by 


* So much of this rule as directs the Committee of Accounts to audit and 
settle the mileage and daily pay of the members, was adopted at the 1st Ses¬ 
sion 13th Congress, (18*13.) At the 1st Session of the S5th Congress, 
(1837,) a Standing Committee on Mileage was created for the especial pur¬ 
pose of ascertaining and reporting the mileage for which each member shall 
receive pay.—See Rule 103. , 

-j- See Rule and note to Rule 103. 


I To consist of 
y five members- 
each. 




[106—107.] 


67 


sufficient vouchers, establishing their justness both as to 
their character and amount : 

Whether such claims have been discharged out of funds 
appropriated therefor; and whether all moneys have been 
disbursed in conformity with appropriation laws : and 

Whether any, and what, provisions are necessary to be 
adopted, to provide more perfectly for the proper applica¬ 
tion of the public moneys, and to secure the Government 
from demands unjust in their character, or extravagant 
in their amount. 

And it shall be, moreover, the duty of the said com¬ 
mittees to report, from time to time, whether any, and 
what, retrenchment can be made in the expenditures of 
the several Departments, without detriment to the public 
service ; whether any, and what, abuses at any time exist 
in the failure to enforce the payment of moneys which 
may be due to the United States from public defaulters or 
others : and to report, from time to time, such provisions 
and arrangements as may be necessary to add to the econ¬ 
omy of the several Departments, and the accountability 
of their officers.*— March 30, 1816. 

tit shall be the duty of the several Committees on 
Public Expenditures to inquire whether any offices belong¬ 
ing to the branches or departments, respectively, concern¬ 
ing whose expenditures it is their duty to inquire, have be¬ 
come useless or unnecessary; and to report, from time to 
time, on the expediency of modifying or abolishing the 
same : also, to examine into the pay and emoluments of 
ail offices under the laws of the United States; and to re¬ 
port, from time to time, such a reduction or increese thereof 
as a just economy and the public service may require,— 
February 19, isi7. 

106. The several standing committees of the House shall 
have leave to report by bill or otherwise .—March 13.1822. 

107. No committee shall sit during the sitting of the 
House, without special leave .—November 13, 1794. 

*■ See notes to Rules 76 and 89. 

i This addition to the rules has heretofore been overlooked, and omitted 
in the printed editions. 



68 


[ 108 — 111 .] 


108. It shall be the duty of the Clerk to make, and cause 
to be printed, and delivered to each member, at the com¬ 
mencement of every session of Congress, a list of the re¬ 
ports which it is the duty of any officer or Department of 
the Government to make to Congress; referring to the act 
or resolution, and page of the volume of the Laws or 
Journal in which it may be contained; and placing under 
the name of each officer the list of reports required of him 
to be made, and the time when the report may be ex¬ 
pected .—March 13, 1822. 

109. It shall be the duty of the Clerk of the House, at the 
end of each session, to send a printed copy of the Journals 
thereof to the Executive, and to each branch of the Legis¬ 
lature, of every State .—November 13, 1794. 

110. All questions of order shall be noted by the Clerk, 
with the decision, and put together at the end of the Jour¬ 
nal of every session.— December 23, 1811. 

111. Whenever confidential communications are receiv- 
ed from the President of the United States, the House shall 
be cleared of all persons, except the members. Clerk, Ser- 
geant-at-Arms,and Doorkeeper,* andso continue during the 
reading of such communications, and (unless otherwise di¬ 
rected by^ithe House) during all debates and proceedings to 
be had thereon. And when the Speaker, or any other 
member, shall inform the House that he has communica¬ 
tions to make, which he conceives ought to be kept secret, 
the House shall, in like manner, be cleared, till the commu¬ 
nication be made ; the House shall then determine whether 
the matter communicated requires secrecy or not, and take 
order accordingly .—February 17, 1792, and December 30, 
1793. 


* In the rule as originally established on the 17th February, 1792, it is 
provided that the House be cleared of all persons, except “ the Members and 
the Clerk.” In the rules of the 13th November, 1794, the language used is 
“ the members of the House and its officers.'^ In the edition of 7th January, 
1802, the terms “ Members and Clerk” are again used: and on the 23d De¬ 
cember, 1811, it w'as changed to its present form, so as to include the Ser¬ 
geant and Doorkeeper. 



69 


Hiiles—[112—117,'] 

112. All questions relating to the priority of business to 
be acted on shall be decided without debate.— February 
21, 1803. 

Of Bills. 

113. Every bill shall be introduced on the report of a 
committee, or by motion for leave. In the latter case, at 
least one day’s notice shall be given of the motion; and 
the motion shall be made, and the bill introduced, if leave 
is given, when resolutions are called for: such motion, or 
the bill when introduced, may be committed.— Jlpril 7, 
1789, and September 15, 1837. 

114. Every bill shall receive three several readings in 
the House, previous to its passage; and bills shall be de¬ 
spatched in order as they were introduced, unless where 
the House shall direct otherwise ; but no bill shall be twice 
read on the same day, without special order of the House.— 
April 7, 1789. 

115. The first reading of a bill shall be for information ; 
and, if opposition be made to it, the question shall be. 

Shall this bill be rejected ?” If no opposition be made, 
or if the question to reject be negatived, the bill shall go 
to its second reading without a question.— April 7, 1789. 

116. Upon the second reading of a bill, the Speaker 
shall state it as ready for commitment or engrossment; 
and, if committed, then a question shall be, whether to a 
select or standing committee, or to a Committee of the 
Whole House: if to a Committee of the Whole House, 
the House shall determine on what day— Nov. 13, 1794; 
if no motion be made to commit, the question shall be sta¬ 
ted on its engrossment; and if it be not ordered to be en¬ 
grossed on the day of its being reported, it shall be placed 
in the general file on the Speaker’s table, to be taken up in 
its order. But, if the bill be ordered to be engrossed, the 
House shall appoint the day when it shall .be read the 
third time.— November 13, 1794. 

117. Not more than three bills, originating in the House, 
shall be committed to the same Committee of the Whole; 
and such bills shall be analogous in their nature, which 


70 Rules—[ns—\24.'\ 

analogy shall be determined by the Speaker.— December 
29, 1817. 

118. After commitment and report thereof to the House, 
or at any time before its passage, a bill may be recom¬ 
mitted .—Jipril 7, 1789. 

119. All bills ordered to be engrossed shall be executed 
in a fair round hand. —Jipril 1, 1789. 

120. No amendment by way of rider shall be received 
to any bill on its third reading.— April 8, 1814. 

121. When a bill shall pass, it shall be certified by the 
Clerk, noting the day of its passage at the foot thereof.— 
diprill, 1789. 

Of Committees of the Whole House. 

122. It shall be a standing order of the day, throughout 
the session, for the House to resolve itself into a Commit¬ 
tee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.— April 
7, 1789. 

123. In forming a Committee of the Whole House, the 
Speaker shall leave his chair, and a chairman, to preside 
in committee, shall be appointed by the Speaker.*— April 
7, 1789. 

124. Upon bills committed to a Committee of the Whole 
House, the bill shall be first read throughout by the Clerk, 
and then again read and debated by clauses, leaving the 
preamble to be last considered : the body of the bill shall 
not be defaced or interlined; but all amendments, noting 
the page and line, shall be duly entered by the Clerk on a 
separate paper, as the same shall be agreed to by the com¬ 
mittee, and so reported to the House.t After report, the 
bill shall again be subject to be debated and amended by 
clauses, before a question to engross it be taken.— April 7, 
1789. 

* Originally the rule was silent as to the mode of appointing a chairman 
of the Coramiltee ot the Whole. He was appointed by the House by nom¬ 
ination and vole thereon. That practice became very inconvenient; and on 
the 13th November, 1794, the rule was amended by adding “by the Speaker.” 

j- This refers to bills in manuscript and bills from the Senate. It was 
long after the date of this rule that the practice of printing the bills obtained. 





71 


Rides—\12S—132.'] 

125. All amendments made to an original motion in 
committee shall be incorporated with the motion, and so 

^jpL 2 fr.»«<A.Ll*amendm^fltS'*itfa'de^”t' 0 *a'repdft'*dcTmmitted"to a* 
Committee’of thS W'hO'le'-Honse'Khall 'be noted and report¬ 
ed, as in the case of bills.— ^pril 7, '1789. 

127. All questions, whether in committee or in the 
House, shall be propounded in the order in which they 
were moved, except that, in filling up blanks, the largest 
sum and longest time shall be first put.*— *^pril 7, 1789. 

128. No motion or proposition for a tax or charge upon 
the people shall be discussed the day in which it is made 
or offered; and every such proposition shall receive its 
first discussion in a Committee of the Whole House.— No‘ 
vember 13, 1794. 

129. No sum or quantum of tax or duty, voted by a 
Committee of the Whole House, shall be increased in the 
House until the motion or proposition for such increase 
shall be first discussed and voted in a Committee of the 
Whole House; and so in respect to the time of its contin¬ 
uance.— November 13, 1794. 

130. All proceedings touching appropriations of money 
shall be first discussed in a Committee of the Whole House.! 
November 13, 1794. 

131. The rules of proceedings in the House shall be 
observed in a Committee of the Whole House, so far as 
they may be applicable, except the rule limiting the times 
of speaking— Jipril 7, 1789; but no member shall speak 
twice to any question, until every member choosing to 
speak shall have spoken.— December 17, 1805. 

132. No standing rule or order of the House shall be 
rescinded or changed! without one day’s notice being 
given of the motion therefor.— November 13, 1794. Nor 

• See Rule 44, and the note to that rule, which is explanatory of this rule. 

\ This rule, as first adopted, required all proceedings touching appropria¬ 
tions of money to be first moved*’ in Committee of the Whole. The word 
moved was struck out on the 17th December, 1805, as it was found, in prac¬ 
tice, greatly to retard public business. 

:|:The words “or changed” were added on the 23d December, 1811. 




72 


[133—13S.] 


shall any rule be suspended, except by a vote of at least 
two-thirds of the members present.— March 13, 1822. it 
!.il* .d 1 m I ^ 

%»y i p . u . rf u uu, Lfiftrt*. i f(i<ir t i hfl a Jiiiiil i ) 

df * Luiiii ' m ‘ tt ' ee ’ 3 - ,"e r Hd ■ i« ^ o 0 ^ l T [ ' liGuij > e i haJ i l bu i LOTnplUlljQ, UA TgpT 
f T T l ' a rur f l T TJirto p . iiM U Uii»iil iCTLllgTn J g iJ * uf tliL.ljt P y . —Jinie IS, 
1841. But the House may, at any time, by a vote of a 
majority of the members present, suspend the rules and 
orders for the purpose of going into Committee of the 
Whole on the state of the Union— June 1, 1840; and also 
of providing for the discharge of the committee from the 
consideration of any bill referred to it, after acting, without 
debate, on all amendments pending, and that may be of¬ 
fered.— July 6, 1841. 

The order of business, as established by the rules, 
shall not be postponed or changed, except by a vote of at 
least two-thirds of the members present.— April 26, 1828. 

133. It shall be in order for the Committee on Enrolled 
Bills to report at any time.— March 13, 1822. 

134. The rules of Parliamentary Practice, comprised 
in Jefferson’s Manual, shall govern the House in all cases 
to which they are applicable, and in which they are not 
inconsistent with the Standing Rules and Orders of the 
House, and the Joint Rules of the Senate and House of 
Representatives.— September 15, 1837. 

135. No person shall be permitted to perform divine ser¬ 
vice in the chamber occupied by the House of Representa¬ 
tives, unless with the consent of the Speaker.— May 19,1804. 

136. The rule for paying witnesses summoned to ap¬ 
pear before this House, or either of its committees, shall 
be as follows: for each day a witness shall attend, the 
sum of two dollars; for each mile he shall travel in com¬ 
ing to or going from the place of examination, the sum of 
ten cents each way; but nothing shall be paid for travel¬ 
ling home when the witness has been summoned at the 
place of trial.— June 5, 1832. 

137. The Clerk shall, within thirty days after the close 








73 


[ 138 — 146 .] 

of each session of Congress, cause to be completed the 
printing and primary distribution, to members and dele¬ 
gates, of the Journal of the House, together Avith an accu¬ 
rate index to the same.— June IS, 1832. 

138. There shall be retained in the library of the Clerk’s 
office, for the use of the members there, and not to be 
withdrawn therefrom, two copies of all the books and 
printed documents deposited in the library.— December 22, 
1826. 

139. The Clerk shall have preserved for each member 
of the House, an extra copy, in good binding, of all the 
documents printed by order of either House at each future 
session of Congress.— February 9, 1831. 

140. The Clerk shall make a weekly statement of the 
resolutions and bills (Senate bills inclusive) upon the Speak¬ 
er’s table, accompanied with a brief reference to the orders 
and proceedings of the House upon each, and the date of 
such orders and proceedings; which statement shall be 
printed for the use of the members.— April 21, 1836. 

141. The Clerk shall cause an index to be prepared to 
the acts passed at every session of Congress, and to be 
printed and bound with the acts.— July 4, 1832. 

142. The Clerk shall take proper measures for the care 
and preservation of the public stable provided for the bus¬ 
iness and accommodation of the House of Representa¬ 
tives. —July 9, 1838. 

143. The unappropriated rooms in that part of the 
Capitol assigned to the House shall be subject to the order 
and disposal of the Speaker, until the further order of the 
House.— May 26, 1824. 

144. Maps accompanying documents shall not be print¬ 
ed, under the general order to print, without the special 
direction of the House. —March 2, 1837; September 11, 
1837. 

145. No committee shall be permitted to employ a clerk 
at the public expense, without first obtaining leaA^e of the 
House for that purpose.— December 14, 1838. 

7 


74 


Joint Rules —[ 1 — 7 .] 


JOINT RULES AND ORDERS OF THE TWO HOUSES. 

1. In every case of an amendment of a bill agreed to in 
one House, and dissented to in the other, if either House 
shall request a conference, and appoint a committee for 
that purpose, and the other House shall also appoint a 
committee to confer, such committees shall, at a convenient 
hour, to be agreed on by their chairmen, meet in the con¬ 
ference chamber, and state to each other, verbally or in 
writing, as either shall choose, the reasons of their re¬ 
spective Houses for and against the amendment, and confer 
freely thereon.— November 13, 1794. 

2. When a message shall be sent from the Senate to the 
House of Representatives, it shall be announced at the 
door of the House by the Doorkeeper, and shall be re¬ 
spectfully communicated to the Chair by tire person by 
whom it may be sent.— November 13, 1794. 

3. The same ceremony shall be observed when a mes¬ 
sage shall be sent from the House of Representatives to 
the Senate.— November 13, 1794. 

4. Messages shall be sent by such persons as a sense of 
propriety in each House may determine to be proper.— 
November 13, 1794. 

5. While bills are on their passage between the two 
Houses, they shall be on paper, and under the signature of 
the Secretary or Clerk of each House respectively.— No¬ 
vember 13, 1794. 

6. After a bill shall have passed both Houses, it shall 
be duly enrolled on parchment by the Clerk of the House 
of Representatives, or the Secretary of the Senate, as the 
bill may have originated in the one or the other House, 
before it shall be presented to the President of the United 
States.— November 13, 1794. 

7. When bills are enrolled, they shall be examined by a 
joint committee of two from the Senate and two from the 
House of Representatives, appointed as a standing com- 




75 


Joint Rules —[8—13.J 

mittee for that purpose, who shall carefully compare the 
enrolment with the engrossed bills, as passed in the two 
Houses, and, correcting any errors that may be discovered 
in the enrolled bills, make their report forthwith to their 
respective Houses.— November 13, 1794, and February 
1, 1827. 

8. After examination and report, each bill shall be 
signed in the respective Houses, first by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives, then by the President of the 
Senate.— November 13, 1794. 

9. After a bill shall have been thus signed in each 
House, it shall be presented, by the said committee, to 
the President of the United States for his approbation, (it 
being first endorsed on the back of the roll, certifying in 
which House the same originated; which endorsement 
shall be signed by the Secretary or Clerk, as the case may 
be, of the House in which the same did originate,) and 
shall be entered on the Journal of each House. The said 
committee shall report the day of presentation to the Pres¬ 
ident ; which time shall also be carefully entered on the 
Journal of each House.— November 13, 1794. 

10. All orders, resolutions, and votes, which are to be 
presented to the President of the United States for his 
approbation, shall also, in the same manner, be previously 
enrolled, examined, and signed ; and shall be presented in 
the same manner, and by the same committee, as provided 
in the cases of bills.— Nove7nber 13, 1794. 

11. When the Senate and House of Representatives 
shall judge it proper to made a joint address to the Pres¬ 
ident, it shall be presented to him in his audience chamber 
by the President of tlie Senate, in the presence of the 
Speaker and both Plouses.— November 13, 1794. 

12. When a bill or resolution which shall have passed in 
one House is rejected in the other, notice thereof shall be 
given to the House in which the same shall have passed. 

13. When a bill or resolution which has been passed in 
one House shall be rejected in the other, it shall not be 
brought in during the same session, without a notice of ten 


76 Joint Rules—[14^19.'] 

days, and leave of two-thirds of that House in which it shall 
be renewed. 

14. Each House shall transmit to the other all papers on 
which any bill or resolution shall be founded. 

15. After each House shall have adhered to their dis¬ 
agreement, a bill or resolution shall be lost. 

16. No bill that shall have passed one House shall be 
sent for concurrence to the other on either of the three last 
days of the session. —January 30, 1822. 

17. No bill or resolution that shall have passed the 
House of Representatives and the Senate, shall be pre¬ 
sented to the President of the United States for his appro¬ 
bation on the last day of the session.— January 30, 1822. 

18. When bills which have passed one House are 
ordered to be printed in the other, a greater number of 
copies shall not be printed than may be necessary for the 
use of the House making the order.— February 9, 1829. 

19. No spirituous liquors shall be offered for sale, or 
exhibited, within the Capitol, or on the public grounds 
adjacent thereto.— Se2}te7nber IS, 1837. 


INDEX 


THE RULES AND ORDERS 

OF 

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 

AND TO THE JOINT RULES. 


A. 

AbolitionpetilionSy rule respecting . - . 

Absent members, their attendance may be compelled by fif¬ 
teen members 

Absent, no member allowed to be, unless sick or on leave - 
Absentees at a call, proceedings against 
Accounts of members, Sergeant io _ 

Acts and Addi'esses signed by the Speaker 
Address to the President, how to be presented (joint rule) 
Adhere, effect of a vote in the two Houses to (joint rule) - 
Adjourn, motion to, always in order, but not to be debated 
hour to be entered _ „ _ _ 

Amend, order of motion to - - - - 

Amendment not to be admitted, if on a subject different from 
that under consideration - - - 

Amendments to engrossed bills, by way of rider, not permitted 
to engrossed bills, to be kept on separate paper 
to original motions, in Committee of the Whole 
' to bills and resolutions, cannot be made by add¬ 

ing other bills or resolutions 
to rules, proposition of - - 

to reports in Committee of the Whole 
to bills on which the two Houses disagree, con¬ 
ference upon (joint rule) - 
of Senate, to bills, when considered - 
Appeals, how made and debated - - - - 

proceedings in case of, for transgressing rules 
not debated on previous question 
Appropriation bills to be reported within 30 days - 

to have preference in order of day 
appropriations not authorized by law, 
not to be made 


Rule. 

Page. 

23 

47 

61 

56 

64 

56 

60 

56 

70 

58 

14 

44 

11 

44 

15 

44 

46 

53 

47, 48 

53 

44 

52 

53 

54 

120 

70 

124 

70 

125 

71 

53 

54 

132 

71 

126 

71 

1 

74 

26 

48 

2 

41 

32, 33 

49 

49 

54 

79 

61 

80 

62 

81 

62 



index to the iinles of the' 




Appropriation for treaties not to be included in bills making 

appropriation for other objects 
Appropriations to be first discussed in Committee of the 
Whole . - - 


Ballot for committees - _ _ - - 

in other cases _ - _ - - 

Ballots, blank, not counted ^ - 

no person to look on when tellers are counting 
Bar, no member to vote unless v/ithin the 
Bills on the table, when to be taken up and disposed of 
Bills reported at first session, to be resumed at second 

private, to have precedence on Fridays and Saturdays 
to be called over on first and fourth Fridays of 
every month—preference to those not ob¬ 
jected to ' . _ _ ^ 

rejected, if enacting words be stricken out 
cannot be amended by adding other bills - 
proceedings on leave to introduce 
how to be introduced or reported 
leave to introduce ^ - 

making appropriations, to be reported within 30 
days 

to have preference in order 
appropriations not autho¬ 
rized by law excluded 
to be first discussed 
in Committee of the 
Whole 

the several readings of - 

if opposed on first reading, question to reject to be 
, ' put, &c. - - - . _ 

hpw to be disposed of on second reading 
not more than three to be committed to the same 
, Committee of the Whole - - _ 

may be recommitted at any time before passage - 
• to be engrossed in a fair round hand 

amendments of Senate, when considered - 
engrossed, when to be read a third time - 
from the Senate, when to be read and disposed of 
not to be amended on third reading by ride^' 
when passed, to be certified by the Clerk 
[in Committee of the Whole] how to be taken up; 
not to be interlined; amendments to, how to be 
kept and reported; and, after report, may be 
again debated and amended - - - 


Rule 


7» 

6f 

130 

71 

7 

42 

10 

4:4 

10 

43 

37 • 

50 

38 

51 

26 

48 

21 

46 

28 

40 

28 

40 

44 

52 

53 

54 

H3 

60 

113 

60 

113 

60 

79 

61 

80 

62 

81 

62 

130 

71 

114 

69 

115 

69 

116 

69 

117 

60 

118 

70 

119 

70 

26 

48 

26 

48 

26 

48 

120 

70 

121 

70 

124 

70 


House of Representatives, 


Jiills, on their passage to be on paper (joint ule) 

to be enrolled on parchment after passing the two 
Houses (joint rule) - “ * - 

(See Engrossed Bills.) 

passed one' House and lost in the other^ notice to 

be given of (joint rule) , _ _ 

passed one House and lost in the other, how they 

may be renewed (joint rule) * - * 

when sent from one House to the other, to be accom¬ 
panied by the papers on which they are founded 
(joint rule) _ - _ _ - 

not to be sent from one House to the other for con¬ 
currence on the three last days of the session (joint 
rule) 

not to be presented to the President on the last day 
of a session (joint rule) - - - - 

joint rule relative to printing of - 
Blanks, rule respecting the filling of - - - 

Blank ballots, not to be counted - - - - 

of Sergeant-at-Arms _ . _ _ 

Business, unfinished, precedence of - - - 

Business, unfinished at first, to be resumed at second session 
of Congress ^ - 

daily order of - 

order of, changed or postponed, two-thirds ne¬ 
cessary 

no debate on priority of - - - 

Business on the table, when to be taken up and disposed of 
Business on the Speaker s table, mode of disposing of 

list to be made of 

private, to have preference on Fridays and Satur¬ 
days . _ _ - 

to be called over on first and fourth Fri¬ 
days in every month, and preference 
given to matters not objected to 

C. 

Calls on Departments for information, rules relating to 
Calls of the House, names called alphabetically 

in order prior to second of previous 
question, but not after 
proceedings on a call - 
Speaker and fifteen members may com¬ 
pel attendance of absent members - 
Capitol, unappropriated rooms in - 

no spirits to be brought within or about (joint rule) 



79 

Rule. 

Page. 

5 

74 

6 

74 


75 

13 

75 

14 

76 

16 

73 

17 

76 

18 

76 

127 

71 

10 

43 

71 

58 

56 

55 

21 

46 

22 

46 

132 

72 

112 

69 

26 

48 

26 

48 

140 

73 

28 

49 

29 

49 


60 

50 

62 

53 

48 

53 

1, 66 

56, 57 

65 

56 

143 

73 

19 

76 


so 


Index to the Rules of the 


Chair, Speaker may substitute a member to take the 
Chairman of Committee, who shall be * 

of Committee of Whole, Speaker names 
Charge on the people, motions for _ . - 

Clerk to cause resolutions to be delivered to President, &c. 
to take an oath to act faithfully, and tenure of ap¬ 
pointment, &c. - - - - - 

to make a list of reports to be made by public officers 
to Congress - _ _ . ^ 

to forward the Journals to Governors of the States - 
to make weekly a list of business on Speaker’s table 
to cause Journal to be completed and distributed 
to furnish members with bound documents - 
to cause the laws to be indexed - . - 

to note questions of order - - ^ - 

to attest legal acts signed by the Speaker 
to retain certain books in the office library - 
to provide for the care and preservation of the public 
stable ------ 

Clerks to committees. House must order employment of - 
Commit or amend, order of motions to - 
Committees, how to be appointed 

who shall be chairman _ _ _ 

to meet on call of two members 
order in w'hich they shall be called for reports 
a member may, in a certain case, be excused 
from serving on - 

precedence of, in motions for reference 
appointment of standing 
duties of, viz: of Elections - 

of Ways and Means - 78, 7 

of Claims - _ _ 

on Commerce' 
on Public Lands 
on Post Office and Post Roads 
for the District of Columbia - 
on the Judiciary 
on Revolutionary Claims 
on Public Expenditures 
' on Private Land Claims 

on Military Affairs 
on the Militia 
on Naval Affairs 
on Foreign Affairs 
on the Territories 
on Revolutionary Pensions 
on Invalid Pensions - 
on Roads and Canals - 


Rule. 

Page, 

6 

42 

8 

43 

123 

70 

128 

71 

60 

56 

20 

46 

108 

68 

109 

68 

140 

73 

137 

72 

139 

73 

141 

73 

no 

68 

14 

44 

138 

73 

142 

73 

145 

73 

44 

52 

7 

42 

8 

43 

9 

43 

24 

47 

63 

56 

45 

52 

76 

59 

77 

60 

81 

61, 62 

82 

62 

83 

62 

84 

62 

85 

63 

86 

63 

87 

63 

88 

63 

89 

63 

90 

64 

91 

64 

92 

64 

93 

64 

94 

64 

95 

64 

96 

65 

97 

65 

98 

65 






House of Representatives. 


81 


Rule. 


CornmitteeSy duties of, viz: on Patents - - - 99 

on Public Buildings - - 100 

on Revisal and Unfinished Bus¬ 
iness - - - 101 

of Accounts - - - 102 

on Mileage - _ . 103 

Comiuittees on Expenditures^ appointment and duties of 

the six - - 104, 105 

Committees^ Standingy may report by bill - - 106 

not to sit during session of House - - 107 

not to employ clerks . _ _ 145 

Committee of the WJtole on the Union, a standing order of 

the day _ _ _ _ - 122 

rules may be suspended at any time to go into - 132 

House may discharge, and terminate debate in - 132 

Committee of the lUAo/e, how formed - - - 123 

how to proceed in cases of bills - - 124 

how to report amendments to original motions - 125 

how to report amendments to a report - - 126 

rules of the House to be observed in - - 131 

must first entertain all motions for laying or in¬ 
creasing taxes ^ 128, 129 

appropriations must be first discussed in - 130 

Committee clerks. House to order employment of - - 145 

Committee on Enrolled Bills, appointment and duties of 

(joint rule) _ _ - _ 7 

to report at any time - - - - 133 

Commitment of motions and reports to be at the pleasure of 

the House - - - - 52 

when different committees are proposed, their 
order _ _ _ _ - 45 

Conference on disagreeing votes of the two Houses, rule re¬ 
specting (joint rule) - - - 1 

Confidential communications or proceedings, rules upon 111 

Sergeant-at-Arms sworn to secrecy - - 72 

Doorkeeper sworn to secrecy - - 74 

Consideration, questions of - - - - 5 

Conversation, (private,) not to be entertained while a mem¬ 
ber is speaking - - - - 37 


D. 

Debate, provisions for the preservation of order and de¬ 
corum in - - - - 30, 32 

on appeals, limited nature of - - - 2 

on appeals in calls to order, prohibited - - 32 


Page. 

65 

65 

65 

65 
63 

66 
67 
67 
73 

70 

71 
71 
70 

70 

71 
71 
71 

71 

71 

73 


74 

72 

54 

52 


74 

68 

58 

58 

42 

50 


49 

41 

49 


82 


Index to the Rules of the 


Rule. 

Debate, prohibited on motions to adjourn \ - 46 

prohibited on motion to lie on the table 5 
prohibited to speak more than once or twice 35, 36, 131 
prohibited on petitions and other papers on day of 

presentation - - - - - 58 

prohibited on priority of business - - 112 

to be precluded by the previous question - 48,"49 

no speech to exceed one hour - - - 31 

in Committee of the Whole, House may terminate 132 
Departments, calls for information from - - - 60 

list of reports from - - - - 108 

Divisum of questions, when and how they may be allowed 51 
Division of the House, how made and decided - - 4 

Divine service not to be performed in the Hall, unless by the 

consent of the Speaker - - - 134 

Disorder of the gallery, remedy for - . - 15 

Documents, members to be furnished with an extra set - 139 

rule respecting printing extra numbers - 60 

Doorkeepers, to be appointed - - - - 73 

to be sworn to secrecy - - - 74 

required to execute rules strictly - - 19 

Duties or taxes, rules to be observed respecting the imposi¬ 
tion or increase of - - 128, 129 

E. 

Elections, h.o'iv io he conducted - - - 10 , 11 

previous nomination necessary - - - 12 

votes to be viva voce - - - - 13 

Enacting ivords, if stricken out, to be considered as a re¬ 
jection of bill, &c. - - - 44 

Ensign or mace, relating to the - - - - 68 

Engrossmoit to be in a fair round hand - - - 119 

Eyigt'ossed bills not to be amended by riders - - 120 

while on their passage betw'een the two 
Houses (joint rule.) 

(See Bills.) 

Enrolled bills. Committee on, may report at any time - 133 

to be examined by the com-^ 


provision for the appoint- ru e) 

mentof the Commitee onJ 
to be signed by the presiding officers of the 

Houses (joint rule) - - - 8 

how to be presented to the President, and the 

time to be noted (joint rule) ^ - 9 


Page. 

53 
50, 71 


55 
69 

53, 54 
49 

71 

56 
68 
54 
41 

72 
44 

73 
56 
58 
58 
46 

71 


43, 44 
44 
44 


52 

57 

70 

70 


72 

74 


85 

75 


House of Representatives. 


Enrolled hills, not to be presented to the President on last 
day of session (joint rule) 

Executive Departments, rules to be observed in calling for 
information from heads of 
Executive communications, when to be read 
Excused frorn voting, rule relating to being 
Excused frorn serving on a committee, a member may be - 

F. 

Fees in cases of calls of the House, payment by members 
of Sergeant-at-Arms _ _ . . 

Friday, private business precedence on - 


G. 

(iallcries may be cleared in cases of disorder 
(Governors, send Journals to - 
admitted in the Hall - 


H. 

llall to be under the direction of the Speaker 
persons who may be admitted within the 
this rule to be strictly executed _ - _ 

not to be used in the performance of Divine service 
unless by consent of the Speaker - - - 

Hats off during session of House . . _ 

Heads of Departments, calls for information from 
Hour rule for speaking - - _ - - 


I. 

Interested, members not to vote when _ - - 

Indefinitely, questions not to be resumed which are post¬ 
poned - - - . - 

Information, calls on the President and Departments for - 
Insert and strike out, questions indivisible 
Index to laws, to be made . - - - 


J. 

Jefferson's Manual, to govern in certain cases 
Joint resolutions, or propositions requiring the consent of 
the Senate, to be laid on the table one 
day _ - _ _ 

signed by the Speaker - - - 

Journal, reading of - - - - - 


S3 


Rule. Page. 

17 76 

60 56 

26 48 

40 51 

63 56 


66 57 

69 58 

28 49 


15 44 

109 68 

16 44 


6 42 

16 44 

19 46 

135 72 

37 50 

60 56 

31 49 


38 51 

50 54 

60 56 

51 54 

141 73 


134 72 


57 55 

14 44 

1 41 


84 


Index to the Rules of the 


Rule. 


Journal^ to be examined by the Speaker - - - 6 

to be printed and distributed within thirty days 

after the adjournment - - - 137 

written motions to be entered - - - 42 

to be sent to Governors - - - - 109 

L. 

Laws to be signed by the Speaker - - - 14 

index to be made - - - - - 141 

Lie on the tahle^ precedence of a motion to - - 44 

no debate on a motion to - - 46 

Lie on the table one day, all matters requiring the concur¬ 
rence of the Senate to - 57 

all calls on Executive officers for 

information shall - - 60 

motion to print extra numbers - 60 

Library of Clerk's office, books*to be retained - - 138 

Lobby may be cleared in cases of disorder - - 15 


M. 


Mace, or symbol of office of the Sergeant - - - 68 

not printed under common order - - - 144 

Manual, Jefferson's, to govern in certain cases - - 134 

Memorials, when to be presented - - - - 22 

rules to be observed on the presentation of - 22, 58 
on slavery (abolition) - - - - 23 

name of members presenting - - - 59 

Members, not to vote, when interested - - - 38 

to be furnished with extra set of documents - 139 

to sit uncovered - - - - 37 

their names to be called alphabetically - - 62 

proceeding against absentees at call - - 65, 66 

to be paid by Sergeant-at-Arms - - _ 70 

Messages between the two Houses, how to be announced and 

delivered (joint rules) - - - 2, 3 

by whom to be sent (joint rule) - _ - 4 

Messages from Senate, when considered - - - 26 

Messages from President, when read - - - 26 

Mileage, duty of Committee on - - - - 103 

Morning hour, for reports and resolutions - - - 26 

no suspension during - - - 132 

Motions, to be stated by the Speaker or read by the Clerk 41 
if desired, shall be reduced to writing - - 42 

when to be considered as in possession of the House 43 


precedence and order of certain - 


44, 45, 127 


Page. 

42 

72 

51 

68 


44 

73 

52 

53 

55 

56 
56 
73 
44 


57 
73 

72 

46 
46, 55 

47 
56 
51 

73 

50 
56 

56, 57 

58 

74 
74 

48 
48 
66 
48 
71 

51 

51 

52 
52, 71 


House of Bepreseniativcs. 


Motions^ may be committed at pleasure - - - 

when they may be withdrawn - - - 

N. 

Name of member presenting petitions - _ _ 

presenting resolution _ 

Nominaiion, cases in which it shall be necessary - 
NewspaperSy reporters to give names of - 

O. 

Ordery proceedings in cases of calls to - 
Speaker to decide questions of - 
Speaker to make calls to - 

Clerk to note questions of _ _ _ 

questions of, arising after previous question, no de¬ 
bate ______ 

Order of business of the session - - - - 

of the day _ - - - 

postponed or changed - - - 

Order of calling for petitions _ - _ _ 

for reports of committees 

Orders of the dayy when to be called _ _ - 

may be moved pending consideration or 
discussion of reports and resolutions 
unfinished business to have precedence in 

P. 

Tay of membersy by Sergeant-at-Arms - - 
PetitionSy when they may be presented _ _ _ 

rules to be observed on the presentation of 
rule respecting debate on - - - 

on slavery or abolition - - - - 

name of member presenting - - - 

Personality in debate to be avoided _ _ _ 

Postmaster Generaly calls for information from 
Postmaster of House to be appointed . _ - 

Postponed indefinitely, effect of question which is 
Postponey to day certain, order of motion - - - 

or change order of business - _ - 

^ecedencey or ^ decided without debate 

mTTXOTX ty Oj uUSZXXESSy 3 

Precedence of motions - - - - - 

Presidenty rules to be observed in calling for information 
from the _ - - - - 

manner of presenting bills and resolutions to the 
(joint rule) _ _ _ _ 

manner of presenting joint addresses to the (joint 
rule) . - u - - 



85 

Rule. 

Page. 


54 

42, 43 

51, 52 

59 

56 

59 

56 

12 

44 

18 

45 

32, 33 

49, 50 

2 

41 

32 

49 

110 

68 

49 

54 

21 

46 

22 

46 

132 

72 

22 

46 

24 

47 

26 

48 

26 

48 

56 

55 

70 

58 

22 

46 

22, 58 

46, 55 

58 

55 

23 

47 

59 

56 

30 

49 

60 

56 

75 

58 

50 

54 

44 

52 

132 

72 

112 

69 

44 

52 

60 

56 

9 

75 

11 

75 


SG 


Index io the Rules of the 



Rule. 

Page. 

last 

- 

17 

76 

ifter 

- 

137 

72 

_ 

18 

76 

_ 

60 

56 

- 

44 

52 


day of the session to the (joint rule) 

Printing of Journals to be completed within thirty d 
an adjournment 

Printing of bills, joint rule relating to (joint rule) 

Printing, motion for extra numbers to lie one day 
Previous question, order of motion for 

rules relating to the - - _ 48, 49 

Private business, to have preference on Fridays and Satur¬ 
days - - - - - 28 

to be called over on first and fourth Fridays 
of every month, and preference given 
to, not objected to - - - 29 

Privileged characters, to come within the Hall, named - 16 

rules respecting, to be strictly exe¬ 
cuted - - - - 19 


53, 54 
49 


49 

44 

46 


Q. 

Questions, precedence of - - - - - 44 

manner of putting - - - - 4 

decorum to be observed during the putting of - 37 

may be divided, and the manner of dividing - 51 

to be propounded in the order in which they are 

moved - - - - 127 

Quorum, fifteen members may compel the attendance of a - 61 

R. 

Reading a paper, if objected to, rule respecting the - 55 

Reconsider, rule respecting motions to - - - 54 

Reference, order and precedence of motions of - - 45 

of motions to be at the pleasure of the House - 52 

Reporters, rules respecting - - - -17, 18 

Reports, may be committed at pleasure - - - 52 

Reports of Committees, when to be made - - - 24 

Reports to be made io Congress, Clerk to make a list of - 108 

Resolutions, when they may be submitted - - 24, 25 

only one at a time - - - - 24 

every alternate Monday set aside for - - 25 

those giving rise to debate to lie over - - 25 

cannot be amended by adding other resolutions 63 
requiring assent of the Senate, to be laid on the 

table one day before acting on, &c. - 57 

calling on Executive officers for information, to 

lie one day - - - - 60 

name of member moving - - - 59 

orders, votes, &c., requiring the President’s ap¬ 

probation, shall be signed and presented as 
in cases of bills (see Rills') (joint rule) - 10 


52 

41 

50 

54 

71 

56 


55 

65 

62 

64 

45 

54 

47 

68 

47 

47 

47 

47 

54 

55 

56 
56 


75 



House of Representatives. 


f 


Rule. 


Resolutions^ passed one House and lost in the other, notice 

to be given (joint rule) - - - 12 

not to be presented to the President on the last 

day of the session (joint rule) - - 17 

Riders, engrossed bills not to be amended by - - 120 

Rooms, Speaker to dispose of unappropriated - - 143 

Rules, how to be amended, rescinded, or suspended - 132 

majority may suspend, to go into Committee of the 

Whole on the state of the Union - - 132 

cannot be suspended during morning hour - - 132 


S. 


Saturday, private bills precedence on - 
Secrecy, rule relating to - 

Sergeant-at-arms sworn to - - - 

Doorkeepers sworn to - 

Senate, all orders to be laid on the table one day, which re¬ 
quire the assent of the - - - - 

bills and resolutions, when to be read 
consider messages from - - - - 

messages to and from (joint rules) 

Sergeant-at Arms, to be appointed, and duties of the 

fees of the _ _ - - 

his mace or symbol of office 
to pay members _ _ - 

to give bond - - - - 

to be sworn to secrecy - - - 

Slavery petitions, rule respecting - - - - 

Speaker, to take the chair at the hour of meeting - 
to have preference in speaking to order - 
to rise to put a question - - - - 

to decide questions of order - _ - 

to examine the Journal - - - - 

to have direction over the hall - - - 

to appoint committees _ - - - 

to name member who is to speak 
to call members to order - - - - 

to have direction over unappropriated rooms 
may substitute a member in his place 
case in which he shall or may vote 
to sign acts, addresses, writs, subpoenas, &c. 
Divine service not to be performed in the hall, un¬ 
less by consent of the - - - - 

Speaker's table, mode of disposing of business on - 
Speaking, rules to be observed in the House 30, 31, 32, 33, 

in Committee 


28 

111 

72 

74 

57 
26 
26 
5, 6 

67 

69 

68 

70 

71 

72 
23 

1 

2 

3 

2 

6 

6 

7 

34 

32 

143 

6 

11 

14 

136 
26 
34, 35 
131 


87 


Page. 

75 

76 

70 
73 

71 

71 

71 


49 
68 
58 
53 

55 

48 

48 
42 

57 

58 

57 

58 
58 
58 

47 
41 
41 
41 

41 

42 
42 
42 

50 

49 
73 
42 
44 
44 

72 

48 
49, 50 

71 


88 


Index io the Rules of the House of Reps. 


Rule. 

Speahlngy private discourse not to be entertained, nor is any 


person to pass between the chair and a member 
who is - - - - - ' 37 

Speak, Speaker to designate the member who is first to - 34 

no member to speak more than once or twice 35, 36, 131 
Speech, no speech to exceed an hour - - - 31 

Spirits, not to be brought within or about the Capitol (joint 

rule) - - - - - -19 

Stables, public. Clerk to take care of - - - 142 

Stenographers, may be admitted on the floor, &c. - - 17 

further regulations for - - - 18 

Strike out and insert, rules respecting motions to - - 51 

Substitute, for a proposition, rule respecting a - - 53 

Summons, to be signed by the Speaker - - - 14 

Suspensio7i of rules, two-thirds necessary - - 132 

not to be suspended during morning 

hour - - - 132 

or respecting the imposition of - 128,129 

Tellers may be appointed to count, in certain cases - 4 

U. 

Uncovered, members to sit - - - - 37 

Unjinished business, to have precedence, &c. - - 56 

V. 

Vote, no member to vote when interested, or without the bar 38, 39 
every member present shall vote, unless excused - 40 

to be given viva voce - - - - 13 

Voting, manner of ----- 4 

who are to be excluded from - - 38,39 

if a member- requests to vote, he is to be interro¬ 
gated by Speaker - - - - 38 

Vi’ra roce, elections to be by - - - - 13 

W. 

Witnesses, how to be subpoenaed - - _ 14 

rule for compensating - - - - 137 

Withdrawal of motions, rule respecting the - - 42, 43 

Writs, subpoenas, Sfc., to be signed by the Speaker, &c. - 14 

Writing, motions to be reduced to, if desired - - 42 

Words excepted to, to be reduced to writing - - 33 

Y. 

Yeas and Nays, when calling, no one to go near the table 37 
to bo taken alphabetically - - 62 


Pago. 


50 
50 
50, 71 
49 

76 

73 

45 

45 

54 

54 

44 

71 

71 


71 

41 


50 

55 


51 

51 

44 

41 

51 

51 

44 


44 
72 
51, 52 
44 
51 
50 


50 

50 


1 



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